DO accused of exceeding authority as staff appeal to government leaders for intervention
RAWALPINDI:
Rescue 1122, the life-saving emergency service operating in Rawalpindi, has come under severe criticism following an alleged serious administrative violation after lockers provided by the Punjab government for the convenience of rescue personnel were broken open by force and the personal belongings stored inside were set on fire without prior notice or legal justification.
The District Officer of Rescue 1122, Sibghatullah, is accused of overstepping his authority by ordering the forcible breaking of lockers and the destruction of items belonging to rescue workers. As a result, the personal belongings of more than 100 rescue officers were allegedly deliberately and severely damaged.
Several concerned rescue personnel, who claim to have been victims of the alleged excesses of authority and fear of repercussions by senior officers, spoke to The Express Pakinomist on condition of anonymity.
Giving details of the incident, an official concerned stated that the Punjab government had installed more than 60 lockers at the central rescue station, Chandni Chowk, to facilitate the relief workers.
The purpose of these lockers was to provide personnel responding quickly to emergency calls to safely store their personal belongings, mobile phones, important documents, uniforms and rescue kits, and ensure that their valuables remain secure during operations.
The official explained that each locker could be shared by two people and that nearly 100 or more rescue workers kept their personal and valuable items in these lockers, with the keys remaining in their possession.
However, two days ago, District Officer Sibghatullah allegedly issued verbal orders, without prior intimation or written notice to the locker keepers, that all lockers should be broken open and their contents thrown out.
Following these orders, Contingency Officer Hamza Ali allegedly instructed the staff at Chandni Chowk station to carry out the directive.
Emergency personnel later learned of the incident, sparking widespread concern and distress.
Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122 stated that the lockers had also been broken open on previous occasions and that this was not the first such incident. The spokesman claimed officers had received information suggesting that some lockers contained illegal items in addition to personal belongings. He added that the difference this time was that the locker holders were not informed in advance.
To further clarify, the spokesperson said that District Officer Sibghatullah had instructed the staff to inform all locker holders in time so that they could empty their lockers in advance, but the message was not conveyed to the force by the District Officer’s office staff.
