DUSHANBE, September 15, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The Majlisi Namoyandagon yesterday approved the bill on participation of citizens in maintaining public order.

Presenting the bill, MP Abdusattor Rajabov said that the law revived the institution of voluntary people’s patrol dedicated to provide assistance to the law enforcement authorities in maintaining public order.

“The law prohibits creation of the voluntary public order squads by political parties, public associations and religious organizations,” said Rajabov.

According to him, the law provides for creation of two types of the voluntary public order maintenance squads: 1) a voluntary-individual public order maintenance patrol based on applications of citizens; and 2) a group public order maintenance patrol, when public order squads are created by employees of the organization.

In both cases, the public order maintenance squads are created only by authority of the police departments.

Parliamentarians approved the draft law by a majority of votes and it was sent for consideration to the upper house of the parliament.