PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has announced 300 posts of constables for the sons and brothers of those police personnel, who were killed in line of duty.

He was addressing the `Youm-iShuhada` function held at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines here on Tuesday to pay tribute to the killed police personnel. The function was also attended by IGP Nasir Khan Durrani, ministers, chief secretary, MPAs, police officers and families of the slain police personnel from across the province.

The chief minister paid glowing tributes to the police personnel, who laid their lives to protect thepeople of the province. He said that police rendered great sacrifices during the ongoing militancy.

Mr Khattal< said that in future, government would bear expenses of treatment of injured police personnel. He announced about 300 posts of constables for the sons and brothers of the slain police officials.

The chief minister said that those police officials, who showed remarkable bravery, would be given provincial medals. `The government has directed officials concerned to complete procedural requirements in this regard immediately,` he added.

Mr Khattak said that government gave complete operational freedom to police and there was no interference from anyone in their affairs. He said that government also increased salaries of police officials and ensured appointments in the department on merit.

He said that six specialised training schools and two recruit training schools were also set up in the province.

The chief minister said thatCounter-Terrorism Department (CTD) was also set up in police to ensure a proper intelligence network. The government also introduced traffic warden system in Peshawar and would extend it to Abbotabad and Swat soon, he added. Mr Khattak said that he was satisfied with the performance of police as the force enjoyed trust of people. `It is a changed police force,` he added.

Speaking on the occasion, IGP Nasir Durrani said that police officials from inspector general to constable rendered sacrifices to combat terrorism. He said that aim of observing Youm-i-Shuhada was to pay homage to those police personnel, who died with their boots on.

The police chief narrated the tales of courage and bravery of police officials and said that the province had recorded remarkable decrease in number of sabotage acts during the last seven months.

Mr Durrani also praised the provincial government for not interfering in police department and said that all matters were taking places through internal process.Our Correspondent form Kohat adds: The Kohat police observed Youm-e-Shuhada in a befitting manner here on Tuesday.

Parade was held on the occasion and floral wreaths were laid down at the graves of DIG Malik Saad and other killed policemen.The function held in this connection was attended by Kohat Commissioner Syed Jamalud Din, DIG Dr Ishtiaq Marwat, Deputy Commissioner Kamran Afridi, DPO Mohammad Sohaib Ashraf and a large number of people from different walks of life.