LAHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday amended the Police Order 2002 through an ordinance, eliminating the role of the National Public Safety Commission in the appointment of provincial police officer (PPO aka IGP).

Officials said the role of the commission had been deleted because it was never constituted and the mere mention of it in the Police Order 2002 was a legal hurdle in the appointment of the inspector general of police.

The Police Order (Amendment) Ordinance 2017 promulgated by the governor amends Article 11 (1) of the Order prescribing that the provincial government shall, out of a panel of three police officers recommended by the federal government, post a police officer of the rank of inspector general of police as provincial police officer of the province.

In its original form, the Article had stated that the provincial government shall, out of a panel of three police officers “recommended by the National Public Safety Commission from a list provided” by the federal government, post a police officer of the rank of inspector general of police as provincial police officer of the Province.

The officials said that the amendment could be the first step towards amending the Police Order 2002 to make it compatible with the district administration in the province, and to reshape the external oversight mechanism of police.

For that purpose a cabinet committee and several of its sub-committees comprising PAS and police officials, were perusing all aspects of the Police Order in detail.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2017