PESHAWAR, Feb 12: Two senior NWFP police officials have succeeded in getting their transfer to Balochistan cancelled, while two others left the province after strong resistance, sources told Dawn on Thursday.

According to the sources, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has directed the establishment division to amend the notification whereby five NWFP police officers were transferred to Balochistan.

The directives came after Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani's recent visit to Islamabad, when he requested the prime minister to cancel the transfer order of Investigation Deputy Inspector-General Amir Hamza Mehsud and Mardan SSP Qudratullah Marwat to Balochistan, sources said. "The officers have strong connections with the chief minister," sources said.

The decision of the chief minister was criticized in the police group ashe avoided helping SP Mohammad Ali Babakhel, who was also trying to get his transfer cancelled. "Mr Babakhel was abroad when the notification was issued," the sources said.

Mr Mehsud, Mr Marwat, AIG Tariq Jawed, SSP Ghaniur Rehman and Mr Babakhel were transferred to Balochistan a few months ago. All of them had refused to relinquish their charge.

Mr Rehman manoeuvred to get a posting in the Frontier Constabulary and remain in the province. After initial resistance, Mr Jawad succumbed to pressure and left the charge of his post.

A senior police official said the NWFP police lacked the required number of senior staff and the transfers had weakened the department. "Those police officers who have the domicile of Balochistan should be accommodated in the province first and then the centre should transfer officers from other provinces," he said.