September 8, 2003	Monday	Rajab 10, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 7: The final review meeting on implementation of the Police Order, 2002, will be held on Sept 25, Interior Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat told Dawn on Sunday.

He said it had been decided that the tribal areas of Balochistan would come under police supervision.

“Currently, police can be deployed only in five per cent area of Balochistan and tribal laws are enforced in the rest of the province,” he said.

He said the plan would be implemented in phases as considerable funds are required for the purpose.

The minister said the meeting would be attended by the provincial inspectors-general of police and other officials.

Responding to a question, he said there was no difference between the centre and the provinces on the implementation of the police order.

“Shortage of funds is the only problem confronting the provinces for better implementation of the order, because under it, separate staff and vehicles would be required in all the 1,300 police stations in the country for the investigation wing,” he said.

“The provinces are working to sort out the problems and as per weekly feedback all mechanisms for the implementation of the order are expected to be in place by the Sept 30 deadline,” the minister said.

He said the provinces had stepped up the implementation of the order and were taking up organizational problems with the National Reconstruction Bureau, especially in cases where its interpretation was required.

Replying to a question, he said the order would be enforced in the capital after local government elections.

He said that in the last meeting presided over Interior Secretary Tasneem Noorani, the provincial officials were directed to come up with weekly reports about the progress on the implementation of the order.

The order, he said, was aimed at revamping the police system, making it service-oriented and bringing justice, equity before the law, respect for human rights and dignity of the individual through empowerment of citizens.

He said police complaints authorities would be vital in making police discharge their duties efficiently.

Under the order, citizen-police liaison committees, criminal justice coordination committees, prosecution and public safety commissions services would also be established, he said.