November 29, 2008	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 30, 1429

PESHAWAR, Nov 28: The NWFP government is putting in place a new system for protection of citizens and alternate dispute resolution, giving more authority to the police at local level, it is learnt.

A draft law for introducing the new system has been prepared and the NWFP Governor, Owais Ahmad Ghani, is expected to promulgate an ordinance in this connection shortly, Dawn has learnt on good authority.

The proposed law offers constitution of district protection and peace council in each district that will be responsible for approval of district strategy for peace and protection, quarterly review of the implementation arrangements and mustering support and resources for the implementation of the strategy.

The proposed district protection and peace council will comprise of a strategic group, members of National Assembly, senators, members of the provincial assembly, president of district bar association and representatives of ulema, civil society, senior citizens, ex-civil servants, academia and business community.

Similarly, there will be a peace and musalihati jirga at the level of each police station in the district that will be consisting of area magistrate or revenue officer, sub-divisional police officer, retired police officers and civil servants, civil society organisations and local representatives and elite.

These jirgas, as per the proposal, will review the working of the alternate dispute resolution system, removal of hurdles obstructing the process of peaceful resolution of disputes, providing leadership and guidance to the union-based musalihati jirga, developing institutional arrangements to transform the watch and ward sections of public sector departments into visible and effective entities.

Similarly, organising volunteers for peace and protection in the local area of the police station and developing linkages of the system with organisations engaged in similar pursuits will be its main obligations.

As per the proposed law, below the police station peace and musalihati jirga there will be a union-based musalihati jirga to look after the localised disputes. These jirgas will consist of station house officer, revenue officer from the circle, selected ulema, local representatives and nominated musliheen (mediators).

The SHO of each police station and revenue officer will recommend the names for musliheen. The respectable, honest and important persons having at least 35 years age and enjoying a good reputation in community will be selected for such jirgas. The musalehati jirga will elect its convener on rotation basis.

The union-based musalihati jirgas, as per the proposed law, will be responsible for the resolution and amicable settlement of disputes within the area of the union council through recourse to the process of arbitration, conciliation or mediation.

Moreover, the proposed law also contained a proposal of village defence guard that will be constituted at each village level.

The guard will comprise of police, night watchmen and employed watchmen in public sector to look after the public as well as private property.