PESHAWAR, Jan 30: The police have proposed the formation of local councils, comprising elders and notables to assist in the maintenance of law and order, and their authority should be equal to that of a civil judge.

Official sources told Dawn here on Thursday that the 20-member Nifaz-i-Shariat Council had convened a meeting of the police high-ups at the official residence of Senior Minister Sirajul Haq.

 The Nifaz-i-Shariat Council had invited on Wednesday the SSP Mardan Liaquat Ali and SP Kohat Abid Ali to come up with suggestions to improve law and order in the light of the Islamic Ideology Council’s recommendations, the sources said.

The police sources complained that whenever someone gets arrested for theft, robberies, and carjacking, the courts generally grants him early bail. “And such a person restarts his criminal activities within days of his release,” the police officials told the meeting.

They suggested a halt to offenders’ early bail, sources said.

Some petty money disputes between businessmen also caused unnecessary problems for the police.

The two officials proposed the formation of elders’ council in every market place, whose authority should be equal to that a civil judge to reduce the burden on police force.

“We waste about 80 per cent of our time on money and family disputes, which can easily be solved by such councils,” SP Kohat Abid Ali said.

The government has already been considering the formation of a ministry called Promotion of Virtues and Prevention of Vices to streamline the police, judicial and communication affairs.

The formation of prayers committees in markets and government offices was also suggested.