# Elite Police

The Elite Police (Urdu: اشرافیہ پولیس), 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. It was formed in 1998 as a counterterrorism unit, but over time its duties expanded to VIP escort.

## 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. New checkpoints for curbing street crime were created across Punjab and manned by the Elite Force. Their work drew attention in the wake of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. The Elite Police were also 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 (ex-prime minister). 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.

## Organization

The Elite Police Force is headed by the Additional Inspector-General of Police, Elite Police Force, Punjab, Lahore. Currently, Kunwar Shahrukh, Additional Inspector-General of Police is leading Elite Police Police Force in Punjab. 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 of the Elite Force are trained for six months at the Elite Police Training School (EPTS) at Badian, Lahore, by Pakistan's Special police trainers in personal combat, martial arts, crowd control, close quarters battle (CQB), and reconnaissance. They are trained in the use of a range of weapons, including the AK-47, Glock Pistol, MP5, and grenades. They can use different kind of weapons like Pakistan-made G3, machine-guns etc. Their arsenal also included flak jackets. They are trained in martial arts and boxing practice during training period. They are often seen in black and green track suits.

### Equipment

* Glock series Pistol
* Beretta 92FS Pistol
* Heckler & Koch MP5 SMG
* M4 carbine Assault Rifle
* HK G3 Assault Rifle
* Type 56 Assault Rifle
* POF PSR-90 Sniper Rifle
* MG3 Machine Gun
* POF Eye
* Shotguns
* Hand Grenades
* Smoke Grenades
* Binoculars
* Night vision goggles
And other protective gears.

## 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 Officer | From | To |
| 1 | Javed Noor, PSP | 12-02-2007 | 07-05-2007 |
| 2 | Tariq Saleem Dogar, PSP | 07-05-2007 | 09-05-2008 |
| 3 | Kalb-i-Abbas, PSP | 08-03-2010 | 05-11-2011 |
| 4 | Muhammad Tahir, PSP | 10-06-2015 | 20-10-2015 |
| 5 | Shahid Hanif, PSP PPM | 23-02-2018 | 04-08-2018 |
| 6 | Shahid Hanif, PSP PPM | 29-10-2018 | 16-04-2020 |
| 7 | Muhammad Farooq Mazhar, PSP | 16-04-2020 | 25-03-2021 |
| 8 | Kunwar Shahrukh, PSP | 06-12-2021 | 27-12-2022 |
| 9 | DR Muhammad Waqar Abbasi, PSP | 21-08-2023 | Till date |