{
  "id": 10138912,
  "title": "Cops flag poor facilities ahead of long march",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/cops-flag-poor-facilities-ahead-of-long-march",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T21:07:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Express Tribune - Pakistan",
    "slug": "the-express-tribune-pakistan",
    "url": "https://tribune.com.pk/story/2631614/cops-flag-poor-facilities-ahead-of-long-march"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Around 32,000 police officers from numerous northern Punjab districts were dispatched to Attock district to assist in preventing a lengthy march by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). These police personnel are experiencing significant challenges, including a shortage of basic facilities, insufficient washrooms, limited access to drinking water, and subpar food quality. The lack of amenities has led to various health issues among the police force, with some officers falling ill due to the cold, flu, cough, dysentery, diarrhoea, fever, and sore throats. Constable Zulfiqar, who traveled from Dera Ghazi Khan, passed away from a heart attack, while Constable Zain Bosan, a local resident, drowned in the Ghazi Barotha canal after losing his balance.\n\nThe police force has been housed in government schools and dispensaries, where they are compelled to sleep on the floor, often sharing one washroom for hundreds of personnel. In one instance, a school accommodating around 1,000 individuals had only a single restroom. This severe shortage of facilities has caused great distress among the police personnel. Many have resorted to using bushes and fields near the Attock River bridge for personal needs, which they believe is exacerbating their problems.\n\nBreakfast, tea, and curry served to the police have reportedly been stale on multiple occasions. The food cooked at night is often packaged in small plastic containers and distributed in the afternoon, leaving it to become inedible. The police personnel have expressed their frustration over the lack of fresh provisions, stating that having fresh tea, food, and breakfast has become a distant dream. They have also highlighted the difficulty of their duties, with every fifth or sixth individual experiencing cold, flu, cough, or fever due to the changing weather. The number of medical teams available to examine the officers is insufficient, further complicating their situation.\n\nFor nighttime rest, personnel are obliged to sleep on school floors, provided with one blanket underneath and another on top. Space has been arranged in school corridors, while some officers have turned school benches into makeshift beds. They have been deployed for an extended period due to the postponement of the PTI march, despite having initially been informed they would receive additional pay and serve for just two or three days. Many officers came under the impression they would be adequately compensated and for a limited duration, but their duties have been extended, causing additional strain.",
  "summary": "Complain of inadequate toilets, water and stale food while seniors stay in luxury",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}