ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: After facing charges of favouritism, the commander of Pakistan police contingent, serving in Kosovo under the UN peacekeeping force, has recommended the interior ministry to extend the posting period of 34 police officers working with the mission, source said on Friday.

The two years posting tenure of these police officers is ending on February 2.

In his letter to the ministry, SSP Hamid Zeb, the contingent commander, said: “The 30 police officers out of the total 34, who are ending their tenure of duty on February 2, 2002, have submitted their requests and are willing to continue working with the UN mission in Kosovo, subject to the approval of the government of Pakistan.”

Earlier, the SSP had recommended extension in the tenure of only four police officers. This created unreast among other contingent members, who levelled charges of favouritism and bribery against their commander, involving some interior ministry officials.

Commenting over the extensions in service tenures, interior ministry joint-secretary Iftikhar Ahmed said: “It is against government policy to re-assign those police officials, who have already served with the UN missions.”