Making rounds: IGP says keep vigilant eye on IDPs

New Police Lines in Lakki Marwat to have training school.

DI KHAN: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) IGP Nasir Khan Durrani instructed DPOs of Tank and Lakki Marwat to keep a vigilant eye on IDPs from North Waziristan and to keep a record of the houses rented by them.

Durrani was on a visit to the southern districts of the province on Wednesday, accompanied by other senior officials, to inspect various police stations and check posts. During the visit, he held meetings with public representatives to discuss the prevailing security situation. The IGP heard the problems faced by them and questioned them about their reservations.

He held a meeting with senior police officials and warned them that negligence in regards to law and order will be not tolerated.

He also ordered for increased security at check posts on different routes.

The IGP said all resources are being utilised to facilitate the police force of K-P with modern-day requirements, and that merit in the police force is to be ensured.

During his visit to Lakki Marwat police station, he told journalists that despite the lack of facilities, the performance of the district police was commendable.

“To deal more effectively with the menace of terrorism, work is under way on forming a Counter Terrorism Force in the province,” said Durrani.

He added that the government has decided to bring K-P police salaries at par with those of Punjab starting next month, while bomb disposal units will also receive a special Rs5,000 allowance.

“Such steps are necessary to improve their performance and will certainly help in countering terrorism in K-P,” said Durrani.

With the establishment of New Police Lines in Lakki Marwat, Durrani said they will be provided with additional facilities and a school where training to recruits from Tank, Bannu and DI Khan will be provided.

The IGP shared that the provincial forensic laboratory lacks facilities and that a request in this regard has been made to the government for the provision of modern facilities.

He also added that a committee is to be set up for the purchase of weapons, which will include representatives of the armed forces to make the purchase fair and transparent.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2014.