NOWSHERA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Tuesday announced increasing salaries and other allowances of the KP Elite Force to bring these on a par with that of the Punjab Elite Force.

Addressing the passing out parade of elite police and special combat unit here at Elite Force Centre at Hakimabad, the chief minister eulogised the valour and bravery of force and expressed confidence that the organised police force would frustrate the designs of terrorists and anti-state elements.

He also announced appointment of a permanent doctor and dispenser and transfer of land of heavy firing range to the elite police training centre.

Talking to media persons on the occasion, he said that as soon as political interference was eliminated from the police force the performance of KP police improved considerably.

Answering a question, he said that the KP government had set a new standard through establishment of a model police system in the province and that was the main reason for improvement of the police force within a short span of time. He said that no one could make political interference in the affairs of the police department.

About treatment meted out to Pakhtuns in Punjab, he said that all the nations were equally patriotic and all were Pakistanis, but the racial profiling of Pakhtun was not acceptable. He called for stopping the uncalled for behaviour of the Punjab police and government, adding that it would create cracks in national unity.

He said that PTI wanted to see peace and harmony in the country as people suffered because of terrorism in the past.

Earlier, addressing the passing out parade, Mr Khattak said that remarkable improvement had been witnessed in the performance of police force. He said that measures would be taken for infrastructure development, training and other requirements of the Elite Force Training Centre, Nowshera.

He said that the PTI government had introduced KP Police Act 2017 to make the police exemplary for others. He claimed the law had made the KP police one of the best police forces in Asia. The chief minister awarded the outstanding trainees.

He also increased the 20 per cent instructor allowance to 40 per cent for instructors of the Elite Force.

IGP Nasir Khan Durrani eulogised the chief minister for giving autonomy at different layers to the force and making it a professional force. He said that the de-politicisation of police had improved the overall performance of the force.

Provincial minister Mian Jamsheduddin, MPAs Bena Naz and Fazal Illahi, Peshawar district nazim Arbab Asim, Nowshera DC Sikandar Zeeshan, DPO Wahid Mehmood and Elite Force deputy commandant Mohammad Hussain also attended the function.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2017