PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has completed the recruitment of 4,306 police constables from all eight divisions of the province, marking a significant step toward strengthening the operational capacity and manpower of the provincial police force.

Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi distributed appointment letters to the newly recruited constables at a ceremony in Peshawar and urged them to uphold the principles of merit, honesty and integrity throughout their professional careers.

He said the provincial government was prioritising merit and transparency in line with the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan, adding that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the Special Branch had earned nationwide recognition for their professional performance.

Addressing the recruits, the chief minister said they were becoming part of a distinguished force and urged them to safeguard its dignity, traditions and reputation. He noted that the KP Police had remained on the front line in the fight against terrorism for more than two decades and paid tribute to the force's sacrifices and bravery.

 Afridi called on the newly appointed constables to remain steadfast in their duties, resist all forms of pressure or interference, and make combating crime and terrorism their top priority. He said terrorism had been imposed on the country and vowed that the fight would continue until lasting peace was restored.

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He stressed that treating the public with respect, courtesy and fairness was the hallmark of a professional police officer and assured the force of the provincial government's continued support.

The chief minister also welcomed the induction of women constables, saying the government was committed to women's empowerment through initiatives including internship opportunities, interest-free loans and equal participation in development programmes.

During his speech,  Afridi also commented on the country's political and judicial situation, saying the Constitution guaranteed every citizen the right to peaceful protest. He criticised what he described as restrictions on the democratic process over the past decades and alleged that legal avenues for justice had become ineffective following recent constitutional amendments.

He further alleged that unarmed PTI workers were fired upon during the May 9 and November 26 incidents and claimed that political workers, including minors, had been named in criminal cases related to political gatherings.