In a step towards improving accountability towards citizens, the Khyber Pakthunkhwa government has launched an upgraded complaints mechanism to handle grievances against police officers for neglect and abuse of power and non co-operation with people. The mechanism was developed by the Home Department KP with assistance of Aitabaar, UK aid funded program, to quickly register and address citizens' complaints with the help of Information and Computer Technology (ICT).
The complaints system was formally inaugurated by Special Secretary Home KP, Siraj Ahmed Khan during a function here at a local hotel. Arif Khattak, Additional Secretary Judicial Home Department and representatives of Aitabaar NGO were present on this occasion. The mechanism is operated by the KP Provincial Public Safety and Police Complaints Commission (PPSPCC) housed at Home Department.
Arif Khattak said the PPSPCC was established under articles 73 and 74 of the 2002 police order as an independent body to insulate police complaints from political pressure at all levels and provide policy guidance lines to the police. In the first phase, the system was launched in Peshawar, Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshera and Mardan districts and later would be extended to other districts of the province, he added. The upgrade includes a call centre and a management information system (MIS) for an increased efficiency and complete transparency. The MIS will provide the opportunity for security and justice decision makers to monitor trends and take remedial actions swiftly.
The improved structure of PPSPCC complaints will also ensure complete confidentiality and quick disposal of complaints. The citizens can register complaints on 091-9211333 as people can register their complaints from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Special Secretary Home Siraj Ahmed Khan in his concluding remarks said that this mechanism was aimed for improving security and insures speedy justice to people. He said complainants would be given full protection and officials concerned would be pushed to address it swiftly.
He appreciated the efforts of Aitabaar and Home Department for establishment of the mechanism in a quick time and said that the big challenge would be its implementation on ground. He said this system would be given full attention and performance of officials would be monitored. He said the government was developing a strategy to involve LG representatives for implementation of such like programs for speedy redressing of masses grievances.
Special committees with three members each from LG and private sector would be formed for its implementation at grass root level and summery for this purpose would soon be forwarded to the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister for approval. He urged media to create awareness among masses about this mechanism and register their complaints without any fear of SHO or other officers, adding full protection would be given to complainants and if required their names would be kept in secrecy. He said this system would make an extra check on SHOs, DPOs, Superintendent Jails, Prosecutors and other relevant officials in the districts and would be made accountable for any negligence and inefficiency in official duties on their parts.
On this occasion, it was informed that 84 percent complaints were received by the Chief Minister Complaints' Cell comes through telephones whereas 90 percent complaints were registered between 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The Special Secretary agreed with a proposal of increasing registration of complaints time and asked Aitabaar to work on this regard. Earlier, representative of the Aitabaar appraised the participants about salient features of this mechanism.
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