LAKKI MARWAT: Taking part in a heated debate on law and order situation the members of District Council have asked the provincial government to set up more police stations and increase strength of force in the district. During a comprehensive briefing the district police chief told that despite meager resources and deficiency of cops the district police force carried out 488 search and strike operations and 512 snap checking wherein over 150 proclaimed offenders and 1190 suspects were apprehended. “The law enforcers also seized huge cache of illicit weapons and narcotics from anti social elements and drug pushers”, he claimed, adding that police also conducted checking of 1963 house and 883 hotels besides SOS (save our souls) facility was provided to 1123 schools, 180 jewelers’ shops and 19 banks across the district. Hasan further claimed that the network of extortionists had been broken and the elements that used to make calls to local elders and councilors for payment of extortion money were in the tight clutches of law. He also said that the activation of Dispute Resolution Council and Police Assistance Line had helped to resolve 58 out of 80 disputes and enabled people to get their routine works done without facing any difficulty. Shedding light on mechanism to evaluate performance of SHOs the district police officer said that he had approached higher quarters concerned for setting up three police stations in Lakki, Serai Gambila and Takhti Khel areas. “We have also formulated a mechanism to monitor the performance of cops posted at police posts”, he maintained, saying that the sole aim of police is to maintain peace and protect the lives and properties of people. Members of the council demanded launching a grand cleanup operation against hardened criminals, drug traffickers, gamblers and anti social elements in the district. They also called for paying heed to resolve traffic related issues in Lakki and Naurang towns and demanded deployment of traffic wardens at Michenkhel stand and Saeedkhel mor in Lakki city. The local government representatives also asked the district police authorities to increase patrolling on roads and in areas bordering frontier tribal region. Demanding establishment of a school for the children of police martyrs the councilors said that policemen involved in backing/patronizing drug traffickers and criminals should be taken to task. “After overcoming the menace of militancy the local police should now divert attention to control crimes, vices and anti social activities”, said the District Nazim Ishfaq Meenakhel. He asked police chief to direct SHOs to tighten noose around narcotics sellers and avoid arresting relatives of proclaimed offenders during raids on their hideouts. The nazim also asked the local authorities concerned to shift the office of assistant commissioner and deputy superintendent of police to Lakki city as it would help improve law and order situation.