PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Moazaam Jah Ansari on Saturday said the police were ready to tackle the fallout of the ongoing Afghan situation in the province.

Addressing the ‘Meet the Press’ programme at the Peshawar Press Club, the provincial inspector general of police said the situation along around 1,000 kilometers long Pak-Afghan border would be a challenge. He, however, said things were good due to the fencing of the border.

Mr Ansari said in the past, the province faced the fallout of the Afghan situation.

“We’re watching the changing situation in Afghanistan and are mindful of its possible impact here,” he said.

The IGP said policing in the merged tribal districts was smooth but there was an issue of discipline among the personnel, who were Khasadars and Levies in the past.

He said there was a union of those cops working in the tribal districts.

“There’s no place for union in the police department,” he said.

Mr Ansari said work was under way for the mainstreaming of the police department in the tribal districts.

“We have to train and equip personnel and give them proper facilities,” he said.

The IGP said he had discussed security situation with senior police officials.

He said the police had declared a war on drugs and had formed special teams to crack down on narcotics in districts.

Mr Ansari said the police department had decided to go after drug barons for harming the health of youth.

He said he had issued instructions to the police officials to carry out effective action against drug dealers in the province.

The IGP said the police had also declared a war on land grabbers and recovered the government land valuing millions of rupees in Naran area of Mansehra district.

He said the situation in Naran after violence during an anti-encroachment drive was under control.

Mr Ansari said the process of reward and punishment in the police department continued and he would work to boost the police force’s morale.

“We have set priorities for policing and will take strict action against lawbreakers without discrimination,” he said.

The IGP said he would continue doing his best to serve the people of the province.

He said he had taken a public-police outreach initiative and met people from different walks of life about it.

Mr Ansari said the police were responsible the protection of public life and property and hundreds of police personnel had embraced martyrdom while doing so.

He said the department was mindful of how to take care of the families of martyred personnel.

“I’ll meet the heirs of our martyrs today (Sunday),” he said.

The IGP said it won’t be less than a challenge for him to serve as the provincial police chief.

He said he believed in serving people and had full support of the provincial government to serve the people.

City police chief Abbas Ahsan, Peshawar Press Club president Mohammad Riaz and other police officials were also present at this occasion.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2021