Fighting crime: Counter Terrorism Dept to have 2,350 personnel

They can gather intelligence, register terrorism cases and detain suspects.

PESHAWAR: Starting Friday (today), the police department’s Directorate of Counter Terrorism will be called the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). It will have seven separate police stations in each regional district with 2,350 personnel.

A notification from the provincial government’s Home and Tribal Affairs Department stated the CTD will have powers to collect intelligence, undertake surveillance and monitoring, register terrorism cases and investigate cases related to the Anti-Terrorism Act, The CTD will also have the authority to make arrests, detain suspects and conduct research analysis.

Previously, its domain was limited to collecting intelligence and it was only at liberty to share said information with local police stations. However, this did not have the positive impact expected as police stations claimed of not receiving actionable information in time.

A senior police official said one DIG, 12 SPs, 45 DSPs investigation, 153 inspectors, 289 sub-inspectors, 249 ASIs, 341 head constables, 1,170 foot constables and 19 drivers will be posted at the department.

“One police station will be provided to the CTD in Peshawar and six others in regional districts. These stations will also be used as detention centres,” he said. “The Central Police Office is currently selecting sites for these police stations but till they do, we will be using the CID buildings.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2013.