20000116

Commission to oversee police performance

T A MALIK

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to establish National Public Safety Commission (NPSC) to oversee the performance of police.

This was decided in a meeting here, with Zafar Ahmed Rathore, Police Reforms Commission Chairman, in the chair, to finalise recommendations for police reforms.

Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider, addressing the meeting said that the government was fully committed to provide a neutral, effective and people-friendly police force which would work under a vigilant and independent body to achieve the goal of establishment of sustainable rule of law.

The NPSC would be established at federal, provincial and metropolitan levels. The establishment of an independent metropolitan police for big cities was also agreed upon in the meeting.

The meeting also discussed process of the nomination, criteria for selection and the number of members of the proposed commission at federal and provincial levels.

The responsibilities and functions of the proposed commission were also discussed and finalised.

The meeting also discussed matter relating to recruitment, training, career-planning, rewards and punishments for police personals.

An official of ministry of interior told Business Recorder that the emphasis was on making the police a responsible and responsive force.

All measures would be taken for making police answerable to a body of citizens independent of political influence, Haider said.

The meeting also decided to set up a police complaint authority which would be named from among the members of the NPSC. This 'authority' would hear complaints against police and redress them. The proposed police reforms plan would be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.