A spokesperson has stated that the authority to appoint officers of the Police Service of Pakistan rests solely with the federal government, according to RADIO PAKISTAN. The remark was attributed to Aqeel Malik in the outlet's report published on Thursday.
The statement comes amid an ongoing discussion over proposed changes to policing legislation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. RADIO PAKISTAN did not provide further details on the context in which Malik made the comment.
The appointment question has surfaced alongside criticism of a proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police law. Dawn reports that Tallal has warned the proposed changes could weaken the command structure of the provincial force. The Nation (Pakistan) also reports that Talal Chaudhry opposes the proposed KP Police Act 2026, while the Associated Press of Pakistan reports he said PTI intends to politicize the institution.
Separately, Tribal News Network reports that Sohail Afridi questioned closures of routes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, asking whether the move was an attempt to repeat the situation in East Pakistan.
The remarks reflect continuing scrutiny of provincial policing arrangements and how they interact with federal authority over the Police Service of Pakistan. The source material does not specify what specific provisions of the proposed law prompted the objections, nor does it detail the federal government's formal position beyond Malik's statement.
What to watch next: whether the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa legislation advances and how federal and provincial officials respond to the objections raised.
