Provincial Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Inayatullah Khan said on Tuesday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was taking concrete steps to depoliticize police department by enacting laws and bringing reforms in the sector. He said this while speaking at a "Public Forum" organized by Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) at Peshawar Press in "Ulasi Project for Strengthening Rule of Law in KP." KP Minister further said that Police Reforms Act would be passed by provincial assembly after thorough consultation and deliberation in near future.
Senior Journalist, Rahimullah Yousafzai, Director General Police Projects Coordination, Muhammad Ijaz Khan and Shams Mohmand of CRSS who spoke on the occasion as students, media men and other persons were also in attendance. Senior Minister stated that government was committed to depoliticize and also to make police department democratically accountable and operationally autonomous by introducing laws and bringing about positive changes in the sector. Regarding the future dream of coalition government in KP, he said it (government) was taking all out efforts in police, local government, education, and health to introduce accountability system in the province to improve governance.
Inayat categorically said that postings and transfers in police sector are being made by KP Inspector General of Police rather than other elected representatives and that external and internal accountability system has been adopted as well. However, he informed that some efforts were underway to make police department people's friendly and accountable so that to address trust deficit between public and police officials.
Director General Police Projects Coordination, Muhammad Ijaz Khan also spoke to the participants and saying that police data has been digitalized first time in the history and every police man could check record of criminals via cellular phones. First Information Reports (FIRs) have been computerized aimed at provision of accurate data to police department along with facilitating masses, he added.
KP police department has taken several initiatives including Dispute Resolution Council (DRC), Police Assistance Lines (PALs), Police Access Service (PAS), SOS Call Service, Online FIR, Complaint Against Police, Police Complaints and Accountability, Intelligence and Investigation Schools to facilitate masses, he mentioned. The steps taken by police department have left positive impacts on people, he claimed. Inayat claimed that several officers including low rank police personnel have been dismissed over charges against them and it is an obvious evidence of internal accountability in the department. He admitted that trust deficit among police and public has been widened in last few years due to insurgency and uncertainty in the province and now the department was focusing on community involvement to address the mistrusts.
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