PESHAWAR: The federal government on Thursday appointed Salahuddin Khan Mehsud, a BS-21 PSP officer, as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief.

A notification issued by the establishment division said that Salahuddin Khan Mehsud, a BS-21 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), presently serving under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, was transferred and posted as provincial police officer (PPO), KP, in his own pay and scale with immediate effect till funher order.

The post of KP police chief had fallen vacant following the retirement of Nasir Khan Durrani earlier on March 17.

Mr Mehsud`s name was in the panel of three candidates, including AIG headquarters, KP, Syed Akhtar Ali Shah and IG National Highways and Motorway Police Shaukat Hayat. Earlier on Thursday, Mr Mehsud had held a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad.

Hailing from South Waziristan agency, Mr Mehsud had joined police back in 1989 as ASP and served in various capacities throughout the province. He was promoted to BS-21 in February this year and was currently serving as AIG Special Branch, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, since March 2016.

Prior to this, he also led the counter terrorism department for over a year. Mr Mehusd is set to retire in 2025.