ISLAMABAD, July 24: Local leaders of coalition partners (PPP and PML-N) have entered a stand-off over reconstitution of reconciliatory committees in capital’s police stations, Dawn has learnt.

The bodies were dissolved by the key PPP player and the prime minister’s adviser on interior, Rehman Malik, as these were dominated by supporters of the former ruling party, the Pakistan Muslim League (PML).

Now an interesting situation has developed in Islamabad, as the PML-N rules in both the capital city’s constituencies – NA-48 and NA-49 – while the PPP holds majority in the National Assembly and its members are occupying key positions, including that of the de facto interior minister.

Sources in the police department told Dawn that the office of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) had started receiving the lists of names for the reformation of reconciliatory committees from the PPP and the PML-N.

The SSP referred the lists to relevant superintendent of police (SP), who further forwarded them to the police stations concerned.

PPP’s Dr Israr Shah and PML-N’s Anjum Aqeel, who is also the MNA from NA-48, sent separate lists of their party activists for induction in reconciliation committees of police stations falling in the constituency.

Likewise, Nayyar Hussain Bukhari of PPP and Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, the PML-N’s MNA from NA-49, also came up with their own lists.

One of the letters issued by Dr Shah titled Masalehati Committee contained the names of “Zardari House members” for inclusion in the committee and also called for acquisition of such a list from Mr Bukhari. The letter carried the names of proposed members along with their addresses and mobile phone numbers.

The letter issued by Mr Aqeel on a letterhead with the writing ‘Member of National Assembly’ embossed on it only carried the proposed names along with addresses and cellphone numbers.

The SHOs will resend the lists to the SSP office, who will forward them to the office Inspector General of Police (IGP), the sources said, adding that in the end, the lists would go to the interior ministry for final approval.

In June, the federal government has asked the police chiefs of the four provinces and the federal capital to disband all existing reconciliatory and peace committees in their jurisdiction and reconstitute them in consultation with the local leaders of the political party ruling their provinces. Rehman Malik sent the order on the directions of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The reconciliatory and peace committees are meant to resolve family feuds and petty disputes brought to police stations so as to avoid litigation and to maintain peace at community level.

Observers feel that the elders of the community, who used to be nominated on these committees so far, will now be replaced with political partisans.

Sources said now, 100 per cent seats would be awarded to activists and workers of the PPP in the capital and Sindh province, while 50 per cent seats will be awarded to PML-N and ANP in the Punjab and NWFP, respectively.