Pakistani policemen inspect a police station following a bomb blast in Peshawar on February 24, 2012. -AFP Photo

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday sought explanation from the interior secretary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and police about the Customs authorities' failure to release bulletproof jackets and ballistic helmets imported by a private firm for Elite Force in the province.

The bench observed that the matter was of great importance and needed earlier disposal as local police faced many challenges in enforcement of law and fight against terrorism.

It put on notice the interior secretary, the provincial government through its chief secretary and the additional inspector general of police (headquarters), Peshawar, and directed the deputy attorney general and provincial advocate general to assist the court in the case.

The petitioner's lawyer, Muhibullah Kakakhel, told the court that his client dealt in provision of arms and ammunition and general supplies, including medicines and natural disaster management equipment, and that on different occasions, he provided the said items to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab police.

He said police floated tenders for supply of Elite Force equipment on September 28, 2011 and later accepted his client's bid for bulletproof jackets and ballistic helmets due to high quality.

The lawyer said the said imported goods were stuck at the Lahore International Airport and that his client formally approached police on November 21, 2011 for issuance of the End User Certificate, which was issued five days later, but the Customs department had refused to release them until a no objection certificate from the interior ministry was produced. He said the petitioner wrote a letter to the ministry on January 4 for grant of NOC but it had yet not been issued.

Mr Kakakhel feared that his client might lose the police contract if his goods weren't released without delay.

He also questioned the quality of equipment offered by other firms and said the same procured from local market was substandard.

The court said once bulletproof jackets and ballistic helmets were released, then its quality should be tested in the army's firing range in Nowshera by security forces.

In the lighter vein, the chief justice observed that quality of supply of these jackets and helmets could only be ensured by testing it on suppliers. "The jacket and helmet should be worn by the supplier at the time of testing," he said.

The petitioner has requested the court to direct the interior secretary for early provision of the sought-after NOC.