December 05, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 6, 1429

PESHAWAR, Dec 4: The police department has asked the provincial government for Rs65.82 million to strengthen the force and enable it to cope with the law and situation in the province.Sources said the police force had been hamstrung by lack of resources due to which its effectiveness had dwindled over the past several years. According to them, the provincial police officer had demanded Rs65.82 million to purchase essential equipment and vehicles for the force.

A letter sent to the provincial secretary for finance by the provincial police officer on Dec 1 stated that police needed funds also in view of Muharram during which police would be required to take extra security measures. For this purpose, the letter said, police required additional amount to be utilised for purchase of fuel for vehicles, repair of vehicles and hiring of ultra-light aircraft for four days of Muharram, besides giving cash rewards to police personnel.

The sources said police were better trained than militants but often failed to match the onslaughts of the Taliban because of lack of resources at their disposal. The vehicles used by police were in bad condition, which needed Rs5 million for urgent repair. Police, they added, had been accused of engaging public transport during Muharram and other such events because they did not have the required funds to arrange their own.

The letter, according to the sources, had sought Rs15.30 million to hire private vehicles to be used by the force in Muharram starting from Dec 29. They said Rs5 million would be required by police as feeding charges.

The sources said the provincial police would also be acquiring the services of the Frontier Constabulary and the Pakistan Army during four days in Muharram. These forces, they said, would be deployed at sensitive places and cities across the province to prevent any untoward incident.

Sources said the morale of police had been affected by militants’ activities against them. Most of the police personnel, they said, were reluctant to be posted at high-risk places such as Swat, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank etc.