October 30, 2008	Thursday	Shawwal 30, 1429

PESHAWAR Oct 29: The district council on Wednesday asked the city police to remove all the barriers and concrete blocks from the main roads and ensure access of people to police stations.

As the council resumed its meeting on the second consecutive day, Convener Razaullah Khan Chagharmati informed the members that police officials were called to respond the members’ queries as to why they had failed to control crimes in the provincial capital.

Superintendent Police Chaudhry Mohammad Ashraf represented Capital City Police Officer Dr Mohammad Suleman in the district council.

Following lengthy speeches of the council members criticising police for its failure to control kidnapping for ransom cases, District Nazim Haji Ghulam Ali lashed out at the force for keeping closed the doors of police stations and placing barriers on the city roads.

He said that militancy had so scared the police that they blocked most of the city roads by placing concrete blocs and iron barriers on them. He alleged that they had made police stations as no-go areas for people.

He said even judges of Peshawar High Court were not allowed to use Fort Road. A PHC judge left behind his motorcar had marched towards his residence in protest, he added.

The situation, he said, was deteriorating fast and people were feeling themselves totally insecure as the kidnappers had been picking at least two or three persons every day and releasing them after getting ransom.

He said that police didn’t consult nazims for adopting an effective strategy against the criminals, adding that every station house officer should keep close contacts with elected representatives to discuss and evolve concrete policy for busting criminals’ gangs.

He said that some time ago kidnappers were chasing a doctor on Warsak Road. “The ill-fated doctor ran to Michni Gate police station but the gate of the police station was closed and accused opened fire on him,” he added.

Earlier, members of district council including Allah Dad Khan, Fazal Rabbi, Advocate Hidayatullah Khan, Advocate Rehmatullah Khan, Asif Khan, Asad Khan, Dr Liaquat Ali, Abdul Qadir Saraf, Abid Ali Shah, Ms Falak Naz, Abdul Wahid Qadri, Abdul Baqi, Shamsul Bari, Malik Bakht Naseer and Irshad Khan Tandar condemned police for their failure to ensure safety to the people from kidnappers and robbers.

Most of them blamed the Afghan refugees for the alarming situation and asked the government to expel them as soon as possible. They asked the government to take action against the vehicles having tinted glasses, gamblers, drug peddlers and those supporting the criminals.

Mr Chaudhry, while answering queries of district council members, said: “I admit that police have failed to control crimes but its main reason is that police personnel are busy fighting militancy.”

He assured the house that police had planned to concentrate on nabbing of the kidnappers’ gangs and asked the members to give police about two week time for showing performance.

Mr Chaudhry disclosed that some well off people of Peshawar were behind the kidnappers who would be unveiled very soon.

He also assured the house that all SHOs would consult them in adopting policies against the anti-social elements.