ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: A meeting at the interior ministry on Thursday was informed that the provinces were finding it hard to implement the newly-introduced Police Order-2002 due to lack of understanding about it, procedural complications and lack of adequate funds, a ministry spokesman said.

Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat presided over the meeting, which was attended by chief secretaries and police chiefs from Punjab, Sindh, the NWFP and Balochistan as well as the ministry officials.

The meeting reviewed in detail the implementation of various aspects of the police reforms enunciated in the Police Order, and decided that the provinces should consult the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) about the order’s interpretation, the spokesman said.

He said the chief secretaries and provincial police officers gave detailed presentations regarding the setting up of Public Safety Commissions, Police Complaint Authorities, Criminal Justice Coordination Committees, Citizens-Police Liaison Committees and the separation of investigation units from watch and ward branch.

The provinces complained about lack of adequate funds for implementation of the new order and deployment of separate staff for investigation in the police stations, their office accessories, vehicles and salaries.

The meeting was informed that Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali would preside over a meeting on police reforms in the second week of October to review achievements made so far in this regard, the spokesman said.

It was also informed that the entire Balochistan province, including its tribal areas, would come under police supervision.

“So far only five per cent of Balochistan area is A area where police can be deployed while the remaining 95 per cent area is B area where tribal laws are enforced,” the interior minister told Dawn.

He said that under the government decision, the remaining 95 per cent B area would also come under the police net.

But he said the plan would be implemented in phases because the provinces required a lot of funds for this purpose.

“The provinces are working to sort out problems for a better implementation of the Police Order 2002 and as per weekly feedback all mechanisms for the implementation of the Order are expected to be in place by the September 30 deadline,” the minister said.

He said the provinces had stepped up the implementation of the order and were taking up organizational problems with the NRB, especially in cases where interpretation of police order was required.