ISLAMABAD, March 15: The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development will complete the constitution of national, provincial and district public safety commissions aimed at meeting safety need of the masses.

According to the ministry, these commissions are related to the district governments to make police accountable to civil society and will devise policing plans according to the contemporary needs and demands of the people.

The commissions will fill the gap that could have emerged as a result of abolition of the office of district management.

About functions of these commissions, the ministry sources said the main functions of the District Public Safety Commission relate to redressal of public complaints against police, approval of annual policing plans, evaluation of the delivery of targets assigned to the police and encouragement of police-public liaison.

Members of the safety commissions have been given the powers of Justice of Peace under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. Such commissions in different names exist in European countries and Japan and have been instrumental to developing public confidence in the police.

MPAs will not be included in district public safety commissions, but they will be given membership only in provincial public safety commissions.—APP