Border Military Police Senior Commandant Nadeemur Rehman on Sunday said the Home Department had formed a committee to address problems faced by the BMP so that the force could be strengthened through restructuring.
He said the committee would survey challenges faced by the BMP officials and submit a report on recommendations on restructuring the force.
He said the BMP would induct fresh recruits to the force and special training courses would be offered for its officials.
Talking to newsmen at a press conference, he said there were 355 BMP officials currently in the field. He said there were at least 165 vacancies. He said shortage of manpower had greatly hindered effectiveness of the BMP in policing provincial borders. BMP Commandant Shahid Mehboob and Risaldar Khurram Abbas Khosa were also present at the press conference.
Rehman said the committee would make suggestions for the BMP to cope with the challenges of increasing population and arms smuggling. He said purchase of the latest ammunition for the BMP would also be considered by the committee.
Rehman told newsmen that on Saturday night, the Border Military Police had seized 1,073 bottles of imported liquor being smuggled from Balochistan to the Punjab. He said the driver of the vehicle transporting the liquor had been arrested.
He said a truck had been stopped for a search at Bwatta check post. He said the crates packed with liquor bottles were found hidden under cartons of apples. He said a case had been registered against Bismillah Ali, the truck driver.
He said the driver had told them that he was taking the liquor, estimated to be worth Rs5 million from Quetta to Lahore via Dera Ghazi Khan.
He said the driver would be presented before a judicial magistrate for his physical remand on Monday (today.)
Rehman said nearly 4,500 litres diesel being smuggled from Balochistan to the Punjab had been seized over the weekend. He said over the last three months, 22 stolen motorbikes being transported from the Punjab to Balochistan had been seized and 14 non-custom paid cars had been handed over to the Customs Department. He said it was imperative to improve the BMP to prevent smuggling across provinces.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2015.