PESHAWAR, March 12: Legal cover by the newly-elected Frontier Assembly is awaited to validate the powers of the regional coordination officers (RCOs) posted recently at three different places for improving liaison between the settled and tribal areas to maintain law and order in the province.

“The government is working on a package that will give legal cover to the RCOs by amending all the relevant laws,” says Shahrukh Arbab, RCO-North, while talking to reporters soon after inaugurating his office here on Wednesday.

The Commissioner House, which was turned into the offices of Nifaz-i-Shariat Council by the former MMA government, has now been converted into the office of RCO-North, who will look after Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi, Swat, Malakand, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Kohistan, Chitral, Mansehra, Battagram and Haripur districts of NWFP, and Mohmand and Bajour tribal regions, and Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar.

Mr Arbab said the main objective of the placement of RCOs was to create a link between settled and tribal areas for maintenance of law and order. Before devolution of power plan, the commissioners were responsible for liaison between functionaries operating in tribal and settled areas and in the prevailing circumstances this linkages was badly needed.According to the Terms of References (ToRs), the political agents, deputy inspector general (DIGs) police and district coordination officers (DCOs) will report to the RCOs on the matters pertaining to law and order. Likewise, the RCOs will also oversee development issues both in tribal and settled areas besides entertaining FCR, revenue and services related appeals.