Peshawar police defy govt in war against terror

http://thepeninsulaqatar.com

As the current spate of militancy has cast a pall of shadow on Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly Peshawar, the provincial authorities have found police to be wilfully defying the government’s directives to tackle the menace tactfully. A confidential official note recently sent to provincial police chief Akbar Khan Hoti by the home and tribal affairs department stated: “Situation in Peshawar is rapidly deteriorating because of wilful disobedience of government directives by the police. The current spate of target killings and practical striking at will in the city by militants is a symptom of this no action.” The recent brazen attacks on heavily-guarded Judicial Complex, office of the political agent, Khyber Agency in cantonment area and sporadic incidents of target killings in the provincial metropolis have set alarm bells ringing for the relevant circles in the province. Two militants wearing suicide vests and armed with pistols entered Judicial Complex after passing through security barriers and walkthrough gates on March 18 that showed the level of alertness of the police force. Four people were killed and 49 wounded in the attack. One bomber detonated suicide vest while another was hit by sharp shooter. Sources said intelligence outfits had already passed on message to police about possible attack on the compound. Another car bomb ripped through Jalozai camp on Thursday claiming 17 lives while 28 others wounded. Reports about activities of militants in several districts including Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi have surfaced while former information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain left serious message before dissolution of the government who warned that the situation could go from bad to worse. The official note said confidential and reliable reports received from state agencies about linkages of some individuals with militant outfits were shared with police officers through relevant commissioners on regular basis.