PESHAWAR, Nov 1: The NWFP police have landed themselves in a big quandary after spending Rs20 million on the purchase of luxury cars, under the ‘Police Reforms’. The reason: Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah would not foot the bill.

As it happened, the federal government under the devolution plan and the much-touted ‘Police Reforms,’ sanctioned a hefty sum of Rs1.5 billion from the federal PSDP. The NWFP got its own share of Rs223.020 million.

Ecnec at its meeting in February this year allowed the provinces/organizations to exercise their own independent judgment while making purchases.

Consequently, an inter-departmental purchase committee was formed which also included the provincial police chief. A PC-1 was prepared wherein it was decided to purchase five Toyota cars of 2002 model, apparently for the senior police officers, 69 Suzuki Cultus, 203 Toyota Hillux Single Cabin pick-ups and 277 motorcycles.

Apparently, the idea of driving a relatively smaller Suzuki Cultus did not go well with miffed senior police officials. The PC-1 was revised and a new one was prepared.

Accordingly, the idea of procuring 69 Suzuki Cultus was dropped altogether and the money so saved was diverted to purchase 24 latest model Toyota Corolla at a whopping sum of Rs20.096 million, out of the total Rs223.020 million allocated to the NWFP police.

This was bound to raise eyebrows. Irked by the change in allocation for the purchase of different vehicles, NWFP Chief Secretary Shakeel Durrani sought an answer. How allocations were changed without any reason, he was reported to have asked his colleagues.

In order to justify the whole purchase, the department concerned came up with a bizarre explanation: It was better ‘to opt for a sturdier’ Toyota Corolla of 2002 model.

This way, the explanation said, not only would the government be able to save Rs19.08 million, by not purchasing the smaller Suzuki Cultus, but would also be able to divert and invest the money in Toyota Hillux pick-ups, increasing its number from 203 to 231.

No explanation was given that what prompted the IGP to change his mind, who himself had earlier preferred the Toyota Hillux pick-ups as the ‘one standardised vehicle’ for the police force and go with the option of ‘sturdier Toyota Corolla.’

Not surprisingly, however, the axe fell on the ‘foot soldiers.’ The number of motorbikes for police patrols was cut from 277 to 255. The total purchase bill of all the vehicles and the motorbikes came to Rs22.645 million, including Rs20.096 million for the purchase of the 24 Toyota Corolla cars, leaving a paltry saving of Rs0.375 million.

The explanation, flimsy as it is, did not convince Governor Iftikhar, who on a summary sent to him for the approval of the bill, in a short order refused to approve the bill for the cars.

While the 24 white Toyota Corolla cars gather dust and waiting to be driven off from the Police Lines, Peshawar, the NWFP police have no clue what to do. The file is now with the NWFP Finance Department.

An equally perplexed official admitted he did not know what to do with the file. “Nobody has any idea what to do. The governor has refused to pay for the cars that have already been purchased. The only option is to refer the matter back to the governor and seek a review of the decision,” an official familiar with the case said.

But going by his reputation, officials say, Governor Iftikhar was unlikely to change his mind. So their best bet, therefore, is the new chief minister, who is likely to take charge some times next week. “If nothing else, the new chief minister may at least give the new cars to his cabinet colleagues”, quipped one official.