Under scrutiny: Separate bodies to be set up for complaints against police personnel

CM gives nod to project; LG Minister has yet to approve venture

PESHAWAR: The provincial government has decided to constitute two bodies to deal with complaints regarding police personnel.

“The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government plans to establish Regional Complaint Authority and Provincial Complaint Authority,” a K-P government official told The Express Tribune on Saturday. He added, “The regional authority will deal with complaints regarding personnel till grade-17 while the provincial body will deal with grievances related to officials from grade-18 and above.”

According to the official, the committee of the regional authority will be headed by a Grade-20 official while the one under provincial authority will be chaired by a Grade-21 official. The governemnt official said the regional authority will function on the divisional level.

“Meanwhile, the Public Safety Commission will continue to remain in place, following minor amendments, and will deal with issues on the district level,” he added.

Read: Three policemen killed in Peshawar raid targeting Taliban

Green signal

The paperwork for the authorities has been completed and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has also given the green signal for the project. However, Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan has yet to approve the venture.

Police reforms

When contacted, Inayatullah told The Express Tribune that police reforms are under way and a committee has been established. “A meeting will be convened soon to discuss the matter.”

Lawmaker and committee member, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli said they are working on the proposal and will present it before the committee. Hundreds of public complaints remain unresolved since the K-P government seized the reins in May 2013. This is primarily because district public safety commissions remain non-functional.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2015.