Punjab police worry over rumored transfer to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid poor conditions

The Punjab police contingent of 40,000 deployed in the Rawalpindi division to curb PTI marches is grappling with severe morale issues, citing stale food, foul-smelling meals and inadequate sanitation in Attock and Wah Cantt. In the past fortnight, five constables—Zulfiqar Ahmed, Zain Ali, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Shahzad and Usman Idrees—have died, two from heart attacks, one by drowning in the Ghazi Canal, and two from serious medical complications.

Social media videos show insects and worms in the rations, prompting senior officers to blame the Rawalpindi police administration for mismanagement. Rumors are circulating that up to 25,000 of the deployed officers might be transferred to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the declaration of emergency and governor’s rule, a prospect the troops view as a new hardship. Inspector General Abdul Kareem denied any final order for relocation, promised public notification if it occurs, and said the Punjab Food Authority is conducting quality checks after an employee was caught diluting food. He also rejected claims of widespread adulterated food, labeling them inaccurate.