Fingerprints Information System detects 70 usual offenders: Dr. Umar Saif

Lahore: Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Dr. Umar Saif has said that ‎PITB’s developed Punjab Automated Fingerprints Information System (PAFIS) had helped Police detect almost 70 habitual offenders in Lahore within last six months.

He told it during a meeting held at Arfa Software Technology Park on Wednesday. He said that the PAFIS had computerized more than 1.5 lac fingerprints recorded in district Criminal Record Offices (CROs) of Punjab and the work was still in progress. He said “the central Criminal Record Office was equipped with the PAFIS six months ago where one Khurram Masih was identified to be involved in 36 criminal activities such as robbery, theft and snatching while a woman named Bashiran Bibi caught in 13 cases registered against her in different police stations of Lahore. She also used name of Rehmat Bibi and used to commit crime in the suburbs of Nawab Town, Allama Iqbal Town, Sabza Zaar, Gulshan-e-Ravi and Rehmat Colony etc. Usually the culprits don’t have any Identity Card and discloses fake names before the Police hence claim their first crime whenever caught evading from major punishment from the courts. But fingerprints can’t deceive the matching machines and all FIRs are being traced registered against a single person with the help of PASIF.”

Dr. Saif said that besides central CRO, the system had also been installed in the Police Station Model Town and Qila Gujar Singh in Lahore and being extended to all Police Stations of Punjab gradually. He assured that PAFIS would save the innocent citizens from illegal confinement and torture on behalf of non-identification. “PITB is going to purchase a Mega Matcher device that would match the fingerprints in no time”, he added.