ISLAMABAD – The recent trend of appointing senior police and administrative officers from Punjab to top positions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has drawn criticism from within the provincial bureaucracy, amid concerns over neglect of local officers and undermining of provincial autonomy.
Despite a worsening law and order situation in KP, officers with deep knowledge of the province and its dynamics are being sidelined in favour of individuals from other provinces, particularly Punjab.The appointments have sparked discontent among local officers and prompted questions about the Federal government’s approach to governance in the province.
Many officers local to the province including Mohammad Ali, Mazhar ulhaq Kakakhel and Kashif Alam were considered for the slot but could not clear the rigorous standard of Prime Minister Office (PMO). In the ongoing struggle between provincial govt and Prime Minister Office (PMO) only the Lahori group of officers land on the sweet spot to qualify for top slots.KP officers are seen as ‘inconsistent’ with national priorities Federal govt.
Zulfiqar Hameed is a calm man of Good intentions but will take a while to understand the intricacies of multi polar governance in KP. Moreover the challenge of Taliban operating through hundreds of groups shifting alliances takes a while to internalise.
Similarly, the earlier appointment of Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, also from Punjab, as KP’s Chief Secretary drew sharp reactions from political quarters within the province.Although the subsequent appointment of a local officer to the role brought some degree of relief, the broader pattern has continued.
In another development, Jawad Qamar, nephew of former Railways IG Rai Tahir, has reportedly been transferred to KP Police under unusual circumstances.Sources indicate that he is likely to be posted as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). Mr Qamar, a Punjab cadre officer, has previously served in the CTDs of both Punjab and Balochistan.
This appointment comes despite the presence of senior and experienced officers already serving in KP’s CTD, including Additional IG Shaukat Abbas and DIG Hassan Raza.
Several local PSP officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, have expressed concern over what they describe as a growing sense of marginalisation. “Appointing individuals unfamiliar with the province’s security landscape and public sentiment to key positions is not only counterproductive but also undermines the morale of local officers,” one senior officer said.
Observers caution that continued disregard for local expertise may erode institutional performance and further fuel perceptions that KP’s administrative and policing apparatus is being directed by external forces.
