PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is unhappy with the performance of the police as poor performance has tarnished the image of the PTI government. The government is powerless to take action against any official accused of dishonesty. The police are credited with good deeds, while the government is blamed for poor performance.
During Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Peshawar, provincial ministers raised serious concerns about police performance. The Prime Minister was told that the government could not hold the police accountable as the government has no authority under the 2017 Police Act. According to sources, the Prime Minister was told that the government is not taken into confidence even in high level exchanges and postings.
A PTI minister present at the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the provincial government was concerned about a few incidents of negligence and abuse of power. Disciplinary action was taken only against lower-ranking officials. He referred to the recent incidents in Karak and Tehsil Peshawar which have badly affected the PTI government.
When contacted by the Minister of Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights, Sultan Muhammad Khan said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police had made unprecedented sacrifices in the war on terror. KP police is many times better than the police of other provinces but like any other department there is room for improvement in the police. The provincial government believes that by further improving the police system, it can be made people-friendly.
The law minister said the establishment of an effective body for police accountability was being discussed in the provincial cabinet, assembly and various government meetings.
“Police officers themselves cannot hold policemen accountable,” he said. The government needs an impartial and impartial body to hold the police accountable.
He said that in the absence of checks and balances, the government faces criticism. The chief minister is the chief executive of the province but he has no authority to question the police even though the government is directly responsible for any untoward incident.
Sultan Khan said that the government has decided to set up an independent accountability body for police accountability through which checks and balances would be maintained on the police. The police are also involved and the government appreciates their generosity.
A parliamentary committee can oversee the agency. He said that the government has decided to convene a special cabinet meeting on law and order in the province in which legislation would be decided after consultation with all stakeholders.
He further said that the government is committed to make the police an efficient and modern people friendly police for which all kinds of resources are being provided to them. The law, which included the police, was strengthened by the elimination of political interference, but a public safety commission could not be set up to hold the police accountable as the Peshawar High Court chief justice refused to join the search and scrutiny committee.
“KP police’s investigative, forensic, intelligence systems, and expertise will be further improved. He said that resources would also be provided to the police to meet their needs.
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