Promotion delays, leave denial take mental toll on Islamabad Police

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of constables and senior constables in the Islamabad Police are facing severe physical and mental stress due to years-long delays in promotions and blanket denial of leave, allegedly under the pretext of promotion courses that have not seen the light of the day for over two months.

Sources told HUM News English that over 180 constables have been assigned special duties for more than two months in the name of an “ongoing” lower course, which has yet to commence. In the meantime, these police personnel have neither been officially posted nor allowed any time off.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one such constable said he had not seen his family in over two months. “I have waited 12 years for this course to qualify for promotion to head constable, but even after all that time, the course hasn’t started. Meanwhile, I can’t even go home.”

He said that despite his child falling seriously ill, he was denied leave and forced to continue working 12-hour shifts every day of the week. “Our duties are irregular, unpredictable and relentless. Eight-hour workdays and rest are basic rights,” he said.

Similarly, senior constables who joined the Islamabad Police in 2007 and passed their B-list exam in 2012 are still waiting for promotion after 18 years of service. These personnel alleged that despite clearing all required courses, they have repeatedly been passed over in favour of juniors with political backing.

Some claimed that seats for the lower course have been unfairly reserved for wireless wing staff, many of whom have not passed the course or even begun training.

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Others pointed to newer recruits being promoted ahead of them due to special quotas or assignments, despite having less experience and no history of courses imperative for promotions.

These practices, they argued, expose serious flaws and favouritism in the promotion policies of the Islamabad Police.

It may be added here that suicide attempts had been made by police personnel elsewhere in the country over the denial of leave. A tragic incident happened in Faisalabad on Friday, when a Punjab police constable reportedly took his own life after being repeatedly denied leave.

Sources said that following the incident, the Punjab Police Inspector General ordered an FIR against the shift in charge.

Commenting on the situation, one Islamabad Police constable said, “The IG commutes daily in full protocol, but we are denied our basic rights. We are not asking for favours — we just want what we’ve earned.”

The affected personnel have appealed to the Inspector General of Islamabad Police to order the immediate commencement of the delayed courses and ensure that eligible officials are promoted strictly on merit.

When contacted, the spokesperson for Islamabad Police surprisingly denied any delay in promotion courses, claiming that “all promotion courses are being held as per their schedule at the Police College.”