Pakistani Policemen Dismissed Over Champions Trophy 2025 Security Duties
After nearly three decades, Pakistan has been given the opportunity to host an ICC cricket tournament. However, the challenges facing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seem far from over. From India’s opposition to participating, security concerns, poor ground conditions, and stadium repairs—Pakistan has had to overcome multiple hurdles to organize the Champions Trophy 2025 successfully.
Now, another major challenge has emerged. Punjab province’s police force has reportedly refused to take on the security responsibilities assigned to them for the tournament. As a result, more than 100 Punjab Police personnel have been dismissed from service for refusing to perform their security duties during the event.
Police Dismissal Over Security Duty
An official from the Punjab Police stated,
“During the Champions Trophy tournament, several police personnel were absent from duty multiple times. Numerous cases of absenteeism have been reported. These irresponsible personnel have been dismissed from service. Some officers outright refused to take on the security responsibilities assigned to them.”
Police officers had been deployed to escort and provide security for various teams from Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to their hotels. However, many of them failed to report for duty, while others explicitly refused to participate. Taking the matter seriously, Punjab Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar ordered strict action against the officers involved, emphasizing that security negligence in an international event of this scale would not be tolerated.
Why Did the Police Refuse to Serve?
No official statement has been released regarding the reason for the dismissals. However, local media reports suggest that police personnel have been working under heavy workloads for several months, with increased working hours and responsibilities during the Champions Trophy. Additionally, many officers reportedly did not receive a weekly leave, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction among the force.
As the tournament approaches, PCB and the Pakistan government will need to address security concerns quickly to ensure a safe and smooth Champions Trophy 2025.
