PESHAWAR: The Frontier government has withdrawn its decision to distribute arms among general public and decided to give it to the proposed special police force being raised in conflict-hit areas of the Malakand region.
The decision was taken at a recent cabinet meeting of the provincial government, putting an end to severe criticism attracted from different segments over arming of civilians to help improve the security situation in the province, an official told Dawn.
As per the cabinet’s decision, orders for distribution of arms among the general public were withdrawn.
A task force headed by the NWFP chief secretary and with provincial police officer, home secretary and ministers for information and health as its members was also constituted to work out modalities for distribution of such arms.
The provincial government had earlier decided to hand over old arms available with police to proposed village committees to augment the capacity of police in watch and guard duties at the local level.
However, this decision drew criticism from different quarters, compelling the coalition setup to review it.
The task force, the official said, at its meeting last week decided that such rifles of 7.62 bore would only be given to the special police force of 6,725 personnel to be raised in the conflict-hit areas in line with the Police Order, 2002.
Article 29 of the Police Order authorises head of district police to recruit ‘special police officers’ for special purposes or occasions when personnel available to him are not sufficient to assist police under his command.
Every police official enrolled in the special force will receive a certificate and will have the same powers and immunities, be liable to the same duties and responsibilities and be subject to the same authorities as a regular police.
The task force had also decided that such Chinese-made single shot rifles of 7.62 bore would be modified, as it had already been successfully experimented.
The magazine of the modified rifles will be bearing up to 30 bullets and the rifle will be semi-automatic.
As per the task force decision, the official said, each weapon would be carrying 50 bullets with two magazines of 25 bullets, adding that the cost to be incurred on the modification of 6,725 rifles would be worked out after negotiating with the armoury concerned in Peshawar.
The provincial police officer has been authorised to distribute the rifles to the proposed special police force with a condition that an undertaken will be taken from the inductees of such force.
A summary was being sent to the chief minister for seeking his permission for modification of such rifles and the amount to be incurred on it in line with the task force decision, the official added.
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