KP Elite Police Force counters terrorism

PESHAWAR – The creation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Elite Police Force has strengthened security forces against terrorists in the province, officials said.

“The force was established under the Police Order 2002 to carry out special operations against the terrorists and counter terrorism attacks,” the commandant of the Elite Force, Tariq Javed, told Central Asia Online.

The sanctioned strength of the force is around 6,000 and already 4,000 men have passed the training, he said. Some of the members have been transferred from regular police units, while others are retired army officers who have led operations against militants.

Force headquarters is presently at the Central Police Office in Peshawar, from where the commandant, a deputy commandant and an additional inspector general oversee the unit’s affairs.

KP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti approved the formation of the force in November, 2009. The first batch of 1,022 recruits was trained by Pakistani soldiers at the Punjab Regimental Centre in Mardan, while another 521 commandoes received training in Karachi.

A joint Elite Training School, funded by foreign donations, will be set up in Nowshera by 2013, Abdul Majeed Marwat, commandant of the Frontier Constabulary and an additional inspector general of the Elite Force until last year, said.

“The Elite Police Force is a specialised unit of police who undertake special operations against terrorists, rescue operations and VIP security,” said Marwat. Members have made great sacrifices as they have worked to keep the terrorists from implementing their agenda, he said.

“The Elite Police Force is the backbone of the KP Police Force,” said KP Inspector General of Police Akbar Khan Hoti. “The cops of the force have set glorious traditions of professional commitment and devotion to their cause for the internal security of the country.”

The commandoes have proved their mettle against terrorists and have rendered unprecedented sacrifices for the country and the province, he said.