ABSTRACT
Joining the Civil Service through the Civil Service Exam is one of the most sought-after careers in Pakistan. With each passing year number of CSS, aspirants are increasing. Among the Civil service, the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) and the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) are most sought after due to the power and nuisance value that these cadres promise. This paper has tried to address why PSP remains a preferred choice and what are the motivating factors that PSP officers have when they opt for the Police service of Pakistan. The study has adopted an interpretivist epistemology with a constructivist ontological stance and has applied the method of thematic analysis of interviews conducted with Police officers of different ranks in the police service of Pakistan. The study found that the PSP officers view themselves to be in a superior position compared to other groups, the motivations for joining police service include the perception of superiority, power, protection, nuisance value and ability to influence society through police office. The study also found that the PSP officer perceives himself/herself differently. The motivations of noncommissioned officers are however different.
