September 13, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 12, 1429

PESHAWAR, Sept 12: NWFP Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour has urged the masses to form peace committees at community level for combating insurgents bent upon causing disturbance in the province.

He said this while addressing an award distribution ceremony held at Industrial Estate Peshawar in honour of a police constable who gave his life while foiling a bid to kidnap an industrialist on August 22 last. The ceremony was arranged by Industrialists Association Peshawar (IAP).

Bashir Bilour said that the present government was not facing a deteriorating law and order situation, but it was an insurgency for which masses had to play their role in controlling it.

The senior minister appreciated forming of Industrialists Police Liaison Committee (IPLC) by IAP and said such approach should be adopted by masses at community level.

He said present government had given utmost importance to ensuring proper security of masses and for the first time in the history of the country an amount of Rs507 million has been earmarked for the police department in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) of current fiscal year.

However, he went on to say, still government needed cooperation of the people in combating insurgents who were challenging writ of the government by taking law in their hands and by forming parallel judicial system in the province.

Bilour also assured the industrialists that government would provide full security and protection to them as it was its duty. He said government was aware of the fact that better security would attract more investment and development as a result of which people would get jobs and prosperity.

The senior minister also appreciated the initiative of IAP for honouring a constable who sacrificed his life while protecting a citizen. He said this approach should be adopted by all so that police could be encouraged and their service improves.

Earlier, Inspector General Police (IGP) Malik Naveed also addressed the ceremony and said that police force was rendering great sacrifices in the prevailing circumstances for maintaining writ of the government and for ensuring protection of the people.

The IGP said law and order situation is very bad and police force is striving very hard to control it.He said apart from modern way of combating lawlessness, the Police Department had also started working on modern line. In this connection, the IGP said 16 fixed cameras had been installed at different locations in provincial metropolis which will give complete record to the Police Department.

These secret cameras, he added, would work round the clock through electricity, UPS and solar energy. As a result of information gathered from these cameras, the lawlessness would be reduced in the area, he added.

IGP also informed the industrialists that an industrial police station would soon be set up for protection and safety of industrialists and employees working in the Hayatabad Industrial Estate.

He directed the CCP, Dr Suleman to forthwith forward proposal in this regard so that work should be start over it.

He said present government was very sensitive over the law and order situation and giving due consideration to issues related to safety and protection of people.

Prominent industrialist, Malik Niaz, also spoke on the occasion and apprised the participants about the objectives behind forming IPLC. He said after forming of IPLC a number of attempts for abduction and robbery were foiled in industrial estate.

Later, the senior minister distributed cash awards among police officials who foiled attempt to kidnap an industrialist.

The highest cash award of Rs200,000 was given to father of police constable, Israr Hussain. ASP Jawad Qamar was given a cash award of Rs100,000 for his prompt action over a kidnapping attempt which he foiled. SHO Binaras Khan of Hayatabad police station was given cash award of Rs50,000 for his quick response to complaints of industrialist and prompt action. A guard of private security agency, Imran Khan was given a cash award of Rs5,000 for forcing to surrender members of Zalmey group of kidnappers in the industrial estate. — APP