PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Wednesday said the law-enforcement agencies had traced a network of extortionists operating in the province and that he had ordered a ‘result-oriented’ crackdown on the outlaws.He was speaking to reporters after handing over keys of buses to the heads of different educational institutions during a special ceremony here at the Malik Saad Khan Police Lines.

The chief minister said the government was committed to protecting the people’s life and property and that the people, especially traders, would soon see improvement in the security situation.

He said the PTI-led government had freed the police department from political interference and made it a dignified independent organisation, and was striving to free the society from unrest, terrorism, corruption and other social ills.

“We’re endevouring to create a society, where there is no difference between the rich and the poor, where justice is dispensed to all citizens without discrimination and where people have equal chances to prosper,” he said.

CM claims change, reforms in police dept visible

Mr Khattak said peace had been restored in the province to a great extent and the government was striving to check crime, including abductions for ransom, extortion, armed robberies and assassinations.

“Creating a secure, just and prosperous society through socioeconomic and human resource development, creation of equal job opportunities, good governance and optimal utilisation of resources in a sustainable manner is the vision of our government,” he said.

The chief minister said in future, police would give respect and protection to the people and resolve their problems at their doorsteps and without much hassle.

He said the visible process of change and reformation had begun in the police department.

“We’ll not leave this process of change incomplete but will ensure its completion. We want to see the people benefit from the fruits of this change,” he said.

Mr Khattak said bureaucracy was next in the line for reforms.

He said the reform programme had been begun in three model police stations in Peshawar and it would be extended to the rest in the province.

The chief minister said basic needs of all police stations would be fulfilled and that necessary facilities and equipment would be provided to them.

He said the government was ensuring that visitors to police stations are received by the staff in a friendly manner and that their problems are addressed to their satisfaction and without delay.

Mr Khattak said separate departments of training, investigation and intelligence had been set up in the police department to eliminate crime and ensure law and order. He praised police for bravery and said by and large, they discharged their responsibilities in a befitting manner.

The chief minister said unfortunately, the past rulers used to claim that they were in state of war every time our innocent people and security personnel were killed in terrorist acts but those rulers didn’t pay heed to taking steps for enabling police to eliminate such terrorist acts.

He said police were only meant for protecting the life and property of the people by checking crime but the current government had ensure that they’re trained and equipped to face any eventuality, including acts of terrorism.

Speaker of the provincial assembly Network of extortionists traced, crackdown ordered Asad Qaisar, police chief Nasir Khan Durrani, home secretary Akhtar Ali Shah, higher education secretary Farah Hamid, and senior civil and police officials were also in attendance.

ACTION AGAINST TERRORISTS PLANNED: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Wednesday decided to conduct targeted operation against terrorists in the province to check kidnappings for ransom, extortion and targeted attacks.

The decision was made during a meeting of the provincial taskforce here.

Provincial home and tribal affairs secretary Akhtar Ali Shah chaired the meeting wherein the prevailing law and order situation came under discussion, according to a news release issued here.

The secretary said besides improvement of intelligence service to get clues about terrorists, efforts were also made through aerial surveillance to get information regarding whereabouts of anti-state and anti-social elements in rural and urban parts of the province.

He said groups of extortionists and targeted killers were active in 25 ‘disputed villages’ located between Charsadda and Mohmand Agency.

Mr Akhtar Ali said dens of terrorists existed in the areas of Frontier Region Bara Qambarkhel, while terrorists had also established hideouts in parts of Mardan.

He said Afghan nationals were also involved in terrorist acts.

The counterterrorism department’s officials told participants that a monitoring cell had been established to keep a close eye on the movement of suspected people in city areas.

They gave details of the terrorist groups operating in Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Dera Ismail Khan and Peshawar.

The home secretary directed participants to ensure stronger intelligence services, better liaison among departments, and coordinated action against terrorists.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2014