PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police claimed on Friday that the recently-formed dispute resolution councils (DRCs) had settled 509 petty disputes out of court during the last one month throughout the province and referred 48 cases to other relevant forums for legal action.

A police spokesman said that the credit went to Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani who formed DRCs with the aim to facilitate citizens and help resolve their minor cases out of court so that they could avoid spending money on prolonged litigations.

Initially, the DRCs were established in the limits of cantonment circle, Peshawar, in 2014 so as to bring positive change in thana culture and ensure prompt settlement of petty disputes among the people.

Owing to its success and the increasing trust of public on this system of dispute resolution a need was felt for replicating it in other areas of the province. Later, such councils were established all over the province and a large number of people are approaching these councils for resolution of their petty disputes. The basic purpose of establishment of this dispute resolution mechanism is to provide prompt and free of cost justice to people.

The spokesman said that DRCs were responsible for amicable resolution of disputes, fact-finding inquiries and acting as jury in the conduct of contested investigation. He said that 557 cases were received by these councils throughout the province in February in which 509 cases were amicably resolved and 48 referred to other relevant forms for legal action.

Police spokesman says 557 cases received across KP in February

The present government, he claimed, had expressed full satisfaction over the role and performance of these councils and directed for establishment of such councils in all parts of the province, particularly rural areas, to ensure free and quick dispensation of justice to the people on their doorsteps.

Meanwhile, police also claimed to have rounded up 603 suspects on Thursday and Friday and recovered arms and ammunitions during the ongoing search and strike operation being conducted under the National Action Plan in parts of the province.

The police spokesman said that during the operation 558 houses and 55 hotels were checked and five cases registered against the violators. The snap checking, he said, was also continued and many of the suspects were picked from the checking points. Besides, 73 Afghan nationals were arrested and cases registered against them under 14 Foreign Act.

Published in Dawn March 21st , 2015

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