MARDAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said here Tuesday that it was the need of the hour to train the police force to enable it to overcome terrorism. He was speaking at a gathering while distributing certificates among the cops on the completion of their training. The chief minister also formally inaugurated the Police School of Public Disorder and Riot Management in Mardan. He said he had given a free hand to the police authorities to take steps to strengthen the force.Pervez Khattak maintained that in the past the police force was used against the protesters and it led the people to lose faith in the cops. “We have changed the culture of police stations. Now the people are helped and facilitated at the police stations,” he claimed. The chief minister said the police force should perform its duty without any fear. “The cops who have received the training should show their ability while performing duty,” he stressed.Saying that he was proud of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, he said he would spare no effort to strengthen the force. “There is no lack of funds,” he declared. The Police School of Public Disorder and Riot Management has been set up to groom and train police officers on modern lines. It is one of its kinds in the country. It will train the police officers on how to handle protests and riots professionally with due regard to the human rights and dignity. The students of universities and other members of the civil society are also being engaged to work out solutions in case of protest and public disorder situations. The policemen are trained in martial arts, arresting techniques and the use of anti-riot equipment. Provincial Minister for Education Mohammad Atif Khan, Commandant of Punjab Regiment Centre (PRC) Tariq Qadar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nasir Khan Durrani, Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Training Mian Mohammad Asif, AIG Special Branch Shaukat Hayat, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Mardan Range Saeed Khan Wazir and District Police Officer Gul Afzal Afridi were also present on the occasion. Nasir Durrani and Saeed Wazir briefed the chief minister about the Police School of Public Disorder and Riot Management.The chief minister was told that the KP Police was being structured on three main pillars i.e. capacity-building, structural reforms and community engagement.
