LAHORE, Sept 17: Suspecting foul play, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday cancelled tests for recruitment of 5,000 constables in 12 districts in the province, ordering examination on the pattern of engineering and medical entry tests instead.

According to a handout issued here, he ordered the IGP to ensure complete transparency in the recruitment process of the constables. He said written test for the recruitment of constables would be conducted by an independent agency instead of the police department.

This special test will be designed on the pattern of engineering and medical entrance test with the cooperation of the National Testing Service, University of Engineering and Technology and University of Health Sciences.

He stressed that recruitment process should be made transparent and all seats should be filled on merit.

Meanwhile, the inspector general of Punjab police has constituted a high-level committee for each district to supervise recruitment process. Similarly, he has formed a Physical Standard Review Board headed by sessions judges to conduct physical fitness tests.