PESHAWAR, Sept 26: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police on Wednesday conceded that they had violated rules while signing agreements with foreign donors for procurement of weapons and equipment between 2008 and 2011.

Deputy inspector general (headquarters) Mohammad Yamin told the provincial assembly’s standing committee on home and tribal affairs department darting a meeting here that police didn’t follow rules and regulations while signing memorandum of understanding and agreements with foreign donor agencies for provision of weapons and safety gears.

The committee conducted proceedings on questions moved by MPAs Saqibullah Khan Chamkani, Mufti Kifayatullah, Mohammad Zamin Khan and an adjournment motion of Israrullah Khan Gandapur regarding purchases for police force, recruitments in Frontier Reserve police and report about twin suicide attacks at Frontier Constabulary headquarters in Shabqadar.

Mr Chamkani had sought details about deals between provincial police and foreign donors, including narcotics affairs section of the US embassy in Islamabad, British and French governments. These donors had donated weapons, vehicles and safety gears between 2008 and 2011.

Mr Yamin informed the committee that police coped with extraordinary situation during the said period and therefore, they didn’t follow the laid down procedures on the matter.

Another reason he cited for it was lack of experience of the relevant police officials.

“They have done in good faith,” he said, but admitted violation of rules. He said the economic affairs division had cleared donors, including NAS, and therefore, police could strike deals with them.

A mover of the questions Saqibullah Chamkani said not only police but others departments too had signed agreements with foreign donors without following rules and the practice was still on.

He said these practice should be banned for ever and departments and its administrative secretaries should be restricted from signing unilateral agreements with foreign donors. He said the Foreign Office had taken notice of agreements between government departments and foreign donors.

The committee chairman, Shah Hussain Khan, directed the chief secretary for clarification on the matter.

According to the official record provided to the committee, NAS had released grants for repairing vehicles, 8,213 sandbags, communication tools, arms, ammunitions, bulletproof jackets and helmets. France and Britain also provided bullet proof jackets and helmets.

The committee adjourned discussion on the question related with inquiry into bomb blasts at FC headquarters in Shabqadar after the relevant officers expressed helplessness about disclosing details about the incident.

Around 100 personnel were killed and scores injured in the twin blasts, which occurred in front of the training facility in May 2011.

DIG Yamin and other officers told the committee that they were not in a position to disclose sensitive information about the incident. They dispelled impression that blasts had occurred due to security lapse. He said proper security arrangements were made and one explosive device was planted in a handcart. He said culprits involved in the attack were traced.

“It’s not possible to share confidential information,” he said. The officer showed reluctance when members insisted to arrange an in-camera session to ascertain reasons for the terrorist activity.

After discussion, participants decided that the joint interrogation team report about the blasts should be produced within 10 days.

The members were not satisfied with the briefing given by FC deputy commandant Shaukat Hayat about the incident and directed the commandant of the force to show up in the next meeting.

Officials said special branch and other intelligence outfits had provided tip-offs about suicide attacks at security installations in the area, including FC training centre at Shabqadar.