KP Assembly Committee on Law and Order expresses dissatisfaction at briefings by IGP, Chief Secretary
PESHAWAR:
A special committee of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly has expressed displeasure over briefings by the Chief Secretary, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Home Ministry on the law and order situation in the province.
The committee has decided to call the Peshawar Corps Commander for the next meeting.
The committee, recently formed to oversee law and order and anti-terrorist operations in KP, held a partially in-camera session on Monday under the chairmanship of KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. This was the committee’s second meeting.
According to sources privy to the meeting, IGP Zulfiqar Hameed, Chief Secretary Syed Shahab Ali Shah and officials of the Ministry of Interior held briefings. Additional IGs from the Elite Force and Special Branch were present, as was Leader of the Opposition Dr. Ibadullah Khan, Maulana Lutfur Rahman and other assembly members were present.
During IGP Hameed’s briefing, the members asked him a series of questions which he answered. The committee was also briefed on modern equipment recently supplied to the police by the provincial government.
Addressing the media after the meeting, KP Law Minister Aftab Alam said that the special committee was formed following a unanimous decision in the assembly and a special demand of lawmakers.
There were reservations about certain operations, discussed in an in-camera session. The meeting will resolve outstanding issues and move towards finalizing the frameworks of reference (TORs), he said.
When asked for details, he said the meeting had been held partly behind closed doors, so he could not reveal everything. He confirmed that the members were not satisfied with the briefings by the IGP and the Additional Chief Secretary.
He said as some questions could only be answered by the Corps Commander, so it was necessary to invite that officer for the next hearing. He hoped the opposition will join them after the meeting, stressing that the province belongs to everyone and everyone wants peace and security.
On legislation related to collateral damage, he said the new cabinet has only recently been sworn in and will soon begin work on legislation governed by the TORs. He emphasized the government’s aim to avoid loss of life or property in the province.
Earlier, Special Assistant to the Information Minister Shafi Jan told the media that the province is currently facing insecurity and the situation is worsening in the merged tribal districts.
He said the membership of the security committee has been increased from 35 to 37. He said negotiations are the only solution to restore peace, adding that an All Parties Conference (APC) will soon be convened where tribal elders are invited.
