Strength in numbers: 4,000 is the proposed strength of the Anti-Terrorist Force. PHOTO: AFP
Peshawar police is considering a proposal to establish a new urban circle and placing Mattani, Badhaber, Urmar and possibly Sarband police stations under one superintendent police (SP).
A source familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune on Tuesday the creation of the proposed circle would increase the number of circles in Peshawar to four: City, Cantt, Rural and Urban. Mattani and Badhaber are considered the worst militancy-hit areas of the district and currently fall under the jurisdiction of SP Rural, he added.
“Rural is a large circle which touches Mohmand Agency in Mathra, Darra Adam Khel and Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar in Mattani, which is nearly 35 kilometres away. Therefore, it is impossible for one SP to deal with such a vast area,” said the official.
Similarly, it was also proposed that some police stations of Cantt Circle – such as those in Regi, Nasir Bagh and Model Town – be made a part of the Rural Circle for administrative purposes. “We want small and efficient circles instead of large and unmanageable ones,” the insider remarked.
He added the police would prefer deployment of Frontier Corps in the three police stations. However, the suggestion can only be implemented if approved by the inspector general of police and the home department.
Anti-Terrorist Force
Army personnel would be recruited to the Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) instead of new police recruits, shared another police officer.
He said training new recruits to use both light and heavy weapons would be a time consuming affair, which is why it would be more feasible to hire retired soldiers on contract. “Ex-army men are familiar with the use of arms of small and large calibres as they are trained for high-intensity conflicts. Their recruitment would help strengthen the police force even further,” he said.
Several retired soldiers are already serving in the provincial police department under contract and perform to the satisfaction of the police force, he explained, adding the strength of the ATF would be 4,000 men.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2013.
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