Police ordinance: District assemblies can transfer DPOs

SSP operations says two-thirds majority must be sought, IGP will be bound to act

PESHAWAR/MANSEHRA: A district assembly can now pass a resolution with a two-thirds majority to transfer a DPO under the Police Ordinance 2016. After the resolution has been passed, the IGP will be bound to transfer the official within 15 days.

This was said by SSP Operations Abbas Majeed Marwat while addressing members of district assembly on Wednesday. He was briefing the district assembly about the powers of the district government and district nazim under the 2016 ordinance.

“If there is a [difference of opinion] between the IGP and the district assembly, the case will be directly referred to the Public Safety Commission for further action,” he said.

According to the SSP, political interference had been removed from the police force after the introduction of the ordinance.

“All powers have been given to the IGP,” he said. “These include decision-making over transfers and postings of police officers up to the rank of AIG.”



Marwat said 7,688 policemen had been deployed to provide security in Peshawar which had a population of around 7.5 million inhabitants.

“This means there is just one policeman for the security of 1,000 people even though the policemen to population ratio should be 1:400,” he said. “We have made every effort to maintain law and order in spite of this.”

He said the Dispute Resolution Councils (DRCs) had been established in city and Cantt areas due to which thousands of cases have been resolved out of court.

Marwat said the crackdown against unregistered refugees will continue. “However, I have directed the police force not to interfere with those refugees who had Proof of Registration cards,” he said. “If they do, action will be taken against them.”

According to Marwat, the police ordinance has empowered the local government and district nazims.

“They should make themselves aware of it so they can play the role that is expected of them,” he added.

On the occasion, Marwat shared crime statistics with local government representatives.

“There has been a 40% reduction in the crime rate in 2016 as compared to the last year,” he added.

Nod of approval

Mansehra District Council approved the police ordinance. The district council met Convener Advocate Murtaza Tanoli on a single-point agenda for discussion and approved the ordinance.

The house, through a show of hands, approved the ordinance following a briefing by DPO Ahsan Saifullah. While briefing the members of district council on the salient features of the ordinance, the DPO said the police department will be depoliticised after the ordinance.

“They are now answerable to district councils across the province,” he added. He told the members that DPO was bound to brief the district council on police performance at least twice a year and a two-third majority of the district council could now transfer a DPO whose performance was not satisfactory.

Mansehra DC Iqbal Hasnain also addressed the members and asked the heads of all district offices to ensure their participation in the district council sessions in future.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2016.