Elite Police


The Elite Police, also known as the "Elite Police Force" or "Police Commandos", is a branch of the Punjab Police specializing in counter-terrorist operations and VIP security duties, as well as acting against serious crime and performing high-risk operations which can't be carried out by the regular police. Within the Elite Police, a specialized sub-unit known as the Special Operations Unit conducts high-risk missions, including operations against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, criminal networks in districts such as Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan, and other extreme security situations such as hostage-rescue or anti-hijacking operations.

History

The Elite Force was created on the order of the then Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in 1997-1998.
In 2004, more funds were allocated for its expansion, and 5000 new personnel were inducted. The Elite Force was allocated to new checkpoints across Punjab intended to curb street crime.
Their work drew attention in the wake of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

Organization

The Elite Police Force is headed by the Additional Inspector-General of Police.
Additional Inspector-General of Police is leading Elite Police Police Force in Punjab.

Training

During operations, they are headed by an officer trained in a "Basic Elite" course.
The Elite Force is used in a range of special operations including "high-risk searches, raids and rescue operations".
Members undergo six months of training at the Elite Police Training School in Badian, Lahore, where they are instructed by special police trainers in personal combat, martial arts, crowd control, close-quarters battle (CQB), and reconnaissance.
They are trained in martial arts and boxing practice during training period.

Equipment

Elite Police members are often seen in black and green track suits.

Miscellaneous

Head of Organization

The highest rank in the Elite Police is the rank of Additional Inspector General of Police. The following is the list of the Additional Inspector Generals of Police who have headed this unit.
No.Name of OfficerFromTo
1Javed Noor, PSP12-02-200707-05-2007
2Tariq Saleem Dogar, PSP07-05-200709-05-2008
3Kalb-i-Abbas, PSP08-03-201005-11-2011
4Muhammad Tahir, PSP10-06-201520-10-2015
5Shahid Hanif, PSP PPM23-02-201804-08-2018
6Shahid Hanif, PSP PPM29-10-201816-04-2020
7Muhammad Farooq Mazhar, PSP16-04-202025-03-2021
8Kunwar Shahrukh, PSP06-12-202127-12-2022
9DR Muhammad Waqar Abbasi, PSP21-08-2023Till date

Notable operations

The Elite Police were extensively involved in neutralizing enemy combatants who had laid siege to the Manawan Police Training School during the 2009 Lahore police academy attacks.
Mumtaz Qadri, the bodyguard who shot and killed Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer in Islamabad on January 4, 2011 was a member of the Elite Police.
On August 12, 2017 a twelve year old boy was crushed to death by Elite Force Vehicle accompanying Mr. Nawaz Sharif.
None of the vehicles including rescue vehicles or the vehicle responsible stopped or took the boy to the hospital. Family of the victim was also pressurized later to omit vehicle registration number from first information report to police.