GILGIT: As Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) police personnel continue their sit-in protest in front of the Chief Minister Secretariat in Chinar Bagh, Gilgit, for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, over delays in implementing a government-announced increase in daily allowances, the department has initiated disciplinary action against 63 officers for “misconduct.”
According to a statement issued by the Gilgit-Baltistan Police’s Disciplinary Action Committee, strict decisions have been made against police personnel involved in disciplinary violations. The meeting concluded that any violation of departmental discipline will not be tolerated, and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.
The police statement revealed that, in the initial phase, 63 cops were being dismissed from service for violating discipline, while further investigations are underway against additional officers.
It said that the committee has issued orders to suspend the salaries of several police officers found guilty of violating discipline, adding that letters have been sent to the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) in this regard.
The statement emphasised that discipline is the cornerstone and distinguishing feature of the police service, making it mandatory for every officer to adhere to the departmental rules and regulations. According to the statement, the committee has made it clear that no leniency will be shown for violations of discipline, and such tendencies will be strictly dealt with.
In a separate development, the Office of the Gilgit-Baltistan Commandant Reserve Police suspended 26 constables of the reserve police and ordered a halt to their salaries.
“Having participated in the agitation/strike against the Government for the increase of Daily Allowance (DA) at District Gilgit by the police personnel of ARP, being members of a law enforcement agency, they have committed grave misconduct/violation of Government Servant Conduct Rule 1964, ESD Rules, 1975, and Police Rule,” reads the notification. The suspended cops have been directed to report to the Armed Reserve Police Line, Gilgit. Similarly, Hunza police suspended 9 constables and halted their salaries.
Protesters’ charter of demands
The protesting cops have presented a charter of demands, saying that they are no longer satisfied with mere notifications regarding daily allowances but will now assert their legal and constitutional rights to present a comprehensive list of demands.
Their demands include aligning the daily allowance with that of Islamabad Police and extending the Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA) to constables through inspectors, who currently lack the 100% allowance required for DRA eligibility. They also seek arrears for past DRA dues.
The protesters have rejected the recent 500-rupee increase in ration allowance as inadequate, demanding a minimum of 6,000 rupees monthly. They further call for house hiring allowances equivalent to those of Islamabad Police and Gilgit-Baltistan Civil Secretariat employees. Should the DRA not be granted, they propose an executive allowance of 150% of the basic salary for officers above Grade 17, citing the Police Rules of 1934, which classify all personnel, from constables to the Inspector General—as police officers. They note that similar allowances have already been granted to Grade 1–16 employees of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
The protesters also demand systemic reforms, including a structured career path for junior officers with time-scale promotions, noting that most personnel retire in the same grade they were recruited in.
They urge the proper utilisation of the Police Welfare Fund, proposing scholarships for personnel’s children from 8th grade onward, interest-free loans for needy officers, and AGPR-mandated salary deductions to enforce the Welfare Act. Additionally, they seek a minimum grant of 1,000,000 rupees for officers injured in service and 2,500,000 rupees for martyrs’ families.
Their demands include reserved university seats for personnel’s children, akin to other paramilitary forces, and the permanent regularisation of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) based on recruitment dates.
To improve welfare, they advocate for a dedicated police hospital modeled after Combined Military Hospitals (CMH) and the establishment of standardised schools in all districts, similar to Army Public Schools (APS), offering subsidised education for personnel’s children. The protest highlights deepening frustration over unmet promises and systemic inequities in police welfare and compensation.
