KP new police order adoption ends wrangling between cops, bureaucrats

PESHAWAR: After over a year of wrangling between the cops and bureaucrats, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has adopted the new police order through an ordinance promulgated by the governor.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa top bureaucracy and the police high-ups were at loggerheads over the proposed law that took more than a year to be decided finally.The police order is yet to be presented in the provincial assembly and has been imposed through an ordinance.

The ordinance titled “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Ordinance” 2016 was issued to regulate the police in the province.Under the new law, the district police officer will be answerable to the elected district government instead of the local administration.

Besides, all the posting and transfer powers have been given to the inspector general of police, who can post officers up to the rank of Additional Inspector General of his own volition.Until recently, the IGP used to send three names to the chief minister for posting even a district police officer. Normally, officers of the choice of the chief minister and others were supposed to be included in the panel of three.

According to an official, under the new order the DPO will have to submit a performance report to the district council at least twice a year. The new police order has further empowered the Public Safety Commissions and the regional authorities to keep an eye on the performance of police officer.

The police order has given legal status to the provincial Public Safety Commission that will include MPAs, both from treasury and opposition benches, retired officials/judges and professionals from the society. There will be similar commissions at the district level.

The new law has given legal status to the Counter-Terrorism Department, Traffic Wardens, Special Combat Unit, Rapid Response Force, Police Assistance Lines, Police Access Service, Dispute Resolution Council and K-9 Unit.

Besides, it has also given legal status to the specialised training schools set up at different places in the province.The police order also includes the fast track promotion policy. Under this policy, 25 percent of the promotions up to the rank of deputy superintendent of police have been earmarked for fast track promotion.

Several drafts of the police order were sent back to the Central Police Office after the bureaucracy made objections on a number of points.It strained relations between the top bosses of the civil and police bureaucracy in recent months.

According to the senior police officials, they have offered themselves in the Police Act for external accountability through democratic institutions which needs to be applied in all 35 other departments at district and provincial level for improved check and balance on corruption.

There have been reservations by the officers from the lower ranks as well as provincial civil service who feel they have been ignored in the new police order.Some have hinted that a number of parliamentarians will oppose it once the act is tabled in the Khyber Pakhtun-khwa Assembly.