PESH AWA R: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Inayatullah Khan, said on Tuesday that the provincial government was taking concrete steps to depoliticise police by enacting laws and bringing reforms in the department.

Speaking at an event `Public Forum` organised by Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) at Peshawar Press Club, he said that Police Reforms Act would be passed by the provincial assembly af ter thorough consultation and deliberations.

Key speakers on the occasion were senior journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai, Director General Police Projects Coordination, Mohammad Ijaz Khan and Shams Mohmand of CRSS. Journalism students, media persons and other people participated in the forum.

The minister said the government was committed to malcing police department democratically accountable and operationally autonomousby introducing laws and bringing about positive changes in the department.

The provincial coalition government, Mr Inayatullah said, was fully determined to make all out efforts to introduce accountability in police, local government, education and health to improve governance. He said postings and transfers in police department were being made by inspector general of police without interference by elected representatives, adding an external and internal accountability system had been adopted to make the police a truly professional force and to build public trust on police officials.

On the occasion, Rahimullah Yousafzai said police and army officials had made history in KP province by scarifying their lives in the war against terrorism.

He said a special committee had been deciding punishments against the black sheep in the police department.

He added that around 450 police officials along with high ranking officers had been terminated and actions against 6,500 other police-men had been taken. Along with that, he said the police department was also rewarding personnel for best performances.

Mr Yousufzai suggested that local policemen should not be posted to their home districts, saying even the governor should be from other provinces to avoid nepotism. He said journalists should report news relating to shortcomings in police department for the purpose of reforms instead of writing in their support on the basis of personal friendship.

Director General Police Projects Coordination, Mohammad Ijaz Khan, said police data had been digitalised first time in the history and every policeman could check record of criminals via cell phones.

First Information Reports have been computerised aimed at provision of accurate data to police department along with facilitating masses, he added.

Mr Khan claimed that several officers had been dismissed over various charges against them, which was evidence of internal accountability being carried out in the department.