PESHAWAR: The NWFP government has decided to replace Malakand division commissioner Syed Mohammad Javed, who has been drawing criticism from different quarters for allegedly mishandling the situation in the troubled Swat region, official sources said.

The establishment department has called back Abdul Karim Khattak from the National Institute of Management, Lahore, and he is expected to replace Mr Javed in a couple of days, the sources told Dawn on Thursday. 

Mr Khattak, a Grade 20 officer from the Provincial Civil Service, was serving as commissioner of Malakand before proceeding on mandatory training a few months ago. His training would be completed in June, but he was called back on Thursday keeping in view the situation in the Malakand division, said the sources.