ISLAMABAD, May 18: The National Public Safety Commission (NPSC) has urged provincial police chiefs not to accept extraneous influence or political interference in upholding the rule of law.

“We want to implement Police Order-2002 in true letter and spirit, which requires that the police should work on the basis of merit without accepting any political pressure,” NPSC secretary and National Police Bureau (NPB) director-general Tariq Khosa told Dawn.

The NPSC, which held a meeting on Friday, was of the view that inspectors general of police in all four province and Islamabad should appoint police officials purely on merit, and not to obey any order from the rulers if they tried to induct any ineligible person in police force or interfere in transfers and postings.

“The IGPs are the ones who change outdate police culture in the country,” he added.

During 23rd meeting of the NPSC headed by prime minister’s adviser on interior Rehman Malik, the commission asked the government to maintain law and order to enhance sense of security among the citizens.

On the occasion, the fourth meeting of the National Police Management Board (NPMB) was also held.

The meetings were attended by NPSC members Lt-Gen (retired) Moinuddin Haider, Mohammad Abbas Khan, Sikandar Hayat Jamali, Dr Sabiha Hassan Syed, Sarkar Abbas and Tariq Khosa, besides Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah and all inspector generals of police.