PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Sanaullah Abbasi has claimed marked decrease in acts of terrorism in the merged tribal districts saying terrorist incidents in the current year has decreased by 50 per cent.

“Best policing are being extended to the merged districts due to which terrorist incidents in 2020 had decreased by 50 per cent,” he told a webinar organised by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Peshawar, here on Friday.

The police chief said the best policing were being promoted in the newly-merged tribal districts in line with the local traditions and aspiration of the people.

He said the Levies and Khasadar forces had been fully absorbed in the police with all incentives of ranks and file.

“We are indebted to the bravery, valour and courage exhibited by the tribal people on every challenging occasion, which will go a long way in the annals of history,” he said while highlighting the sacrifices of the people of former Fata during the war against terrorism.

The police chief said the incidents of terror financing and extortion had decreased by 75 per cent, target killings by 80 per cent and kidnappings for ransom by 100 per cent in the year compared to 2019.

He said attacks on police and other law-enforcement agencies had decreased by 70 per cent and 50 per cent respectively in the current year compared to the corresponding period of the last year.

A statement said the seminar, the first of kind, was held under the title ‘policing in the merged districts’. The IGP addressed the students of various departments of the university.

The police chief informed that Rs450 million from the approved Rs7.377 billion under the umbrella PC-I had already been released for the purchase of land for the construction of police establishments in merged tribal districts.

He said 413 kanals of land had been identified, while acquisition was in progress for the construction of 28 police stations, 54 police posts and offices of CTD and Special Branch.

The police chief said the procurement of uniform, vehicles, security and communication equipment at the total cost of Rs1.608 billion would be completed during the current financial year (2019-20).

He said the Levies and Khasadars had been absorbed in the police, while a comprehensive training programme had been prepared for them and their online training programme would be launched shortly.

Dr Sanaullah said the police personnel were being equipped with the latest weapons.

He said the police’s performance against drug peddlers and arms smuggling also remained up to the mark during the last five months.

The police chief said safeguarding the rights of the people in merged districts and extending the services on their doorstep was his top priority and that he would strive for its effective solution.

Earlier, director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies Syed Hussain Shaheed Suherwardi highlighted the purpose of the seminar.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2020