Islamabad:Minister of State for Law and Justice Aqeel Malik stated that, under the Constitution, only the federal government is authorized to appoint officers in the Police Service of Pakistan.

According to Radio Pakistan, Malik made this assertion during a news conference in Islamabad, where he was joined by Prime Minister's Coordinator Ikhtiar Wali Khan.

Malik criticized a proposed amendment to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Act, arguing that it seeks to politicize the police force in the province. He emphasized that provincial governments cannot independently appoint officers to the Police Service of Pakistan.

Ikhtiar Wali Khan added that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government plans to exploit the police to generate unrest and anarchy within the province.