KP Police Tightens Social Media Ban Amidst Rising Non-Compliance and Influencer Trend
Muhammad Naeem:
Islamabad:
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police department has intensified its efforts to enforce a strict ban on social media usage among its officers and personnel, reinforcing a policy that has been in place for the past three years. This directive not only restricts the use of social media platforms during working hours but also prohibits the use of smartphones. Despite these longstanding regulations, many officers have continued to defy the orders.
A concerning trend has emerged in which some officers have become social media influencers, garnering large followings on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. The growing popularity of these officers online has raised alarm within the police leadership, particularly as some use their platforms to voice criticism of departmental policies and government actions. In response, the KP police leadership has repeatedly issued warnings over the past three years, urging officers to cease their social media activity, but these calls have largely gone unheeded.
In a more stringent move, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Headquarters, has now issued a detailed circular to all regional and district police officers, mandating the strict enforcement of the social media ban. This new directive goes further than previous orders, explicitly banning the use of KP Police-related images and symbols in any online content. Officers are no longer allowed to incorporate the police flag, emblems, insignia, uniforms, equipment, arms, ammunition, or the department’s logo into their online profiles. Even personal photos of officers in uniform are now strictly forbidden from appearing on social media.
Despite the clarity and severity of the new guidelines, the circular acknowledges that non-compliance remains a significant issue, with many officers continuing to ignore the social media ban. The leadership expressed concern over the impact of these violations, noting that they not only undermine the department’s reputation but also pose potential safety risks to the officers themselves.
“Such violations threaten the integrity of the department and endanger the lives of KP Police personnel,” the circular emphasized, underscoring the urgency of enforcing the social media restrictions.
