Fixing the numbers: Central units to recruit on district-based quota system

DPOs will recruit through NTS, psychological assessment

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police has decided to allocate quotas for each district as part of the recruitment process for all central units.

In the past, each central unit, including the special branch, Frontier Reserve Police, Elite Force, Police Training Centre Hangu, counter-terrorism department and others, was allowed to recruit personnel on their own. This, many say, provided government officials with an opportunity to induct as many recruits from their native districts as possible and ignore other areas.

Accusations

A police officer on condition of anonymity told The Express Tribune, “For instance, a large number of officials in the special branch were either from Mardan or Bannu, districts where former chief ministers hailed from.” He added, “It is unfortunate in the absence of guidelines, politicians can recruit their own people and party workers – a constable’s post could be sold for Rs0.1 million without inviting much attention.”

The policeman said, “The level of favouritism was so high that we saw hundreds of people being recruited from just one district.”

More quotas

He said district policemen were currently recruited by DPOs through the NTS. He maintained in order to curb corruption during the selection process, a quota will be allocated to each district for each central unit. This will ensure an equitable distribution of seats in all 25 districts, he pointed out.

He added, “We would allocate a fixed quota for each district and the DPO would be responsible for recruitment.” He said, “Recruitment would be done through NTS and only those candidates who obtain 40% marks will be considered.” Candidates would then have to clear another psychological assessment by a panel of experts, he said.

“In the past, these central units had their own recruitment and promotion process which created many problems,” the policeman added.

The K-P police was the first in the country to introduce a system of recruitment through NTS.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2016.