KP’s bulletproof vehicles for VIPs left unused for decade amid legal disputes

PESHAWAR: In a startling case of alleged official negligence and mismanagement, four bulletproof vehicles purchased for VIP security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have remained unused for a decade.

The vehicles, worth Rs150 million, were initially procured in 2014 to for the security purpose of the chief minister, governor and other VIPs in the province.

According to sources, the KP provincial government acquired the vehicles through a private firm. However, a dispute soon arose between the KP administration department and the private firm regarding the vehicles, leading to prolonged legal battles and arbitration proceedings.

The standoff, unresolved for over 10 years, has rendered the vehicles unserviceable, sources revealed.

Official documents obtained by HUM News English show that in November 2024, a provincial cabinet meeting presented a report from a cabinet committee led by Chief Minister’s Adviser on Anti-Corruption, Brig (retd) Musaddiq Abbasi, aimed at resolving the issue.

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On the committee’s recommendations, the provincial cabinet has been tasked to take crucial decisions to address the issue. The provincial cabinet also approved an out-of-court settlement based on the arbitration tribunal’s ruling. It has also instructed the installation of new tyres, side glass panels and front windshields on the vehicles, and directed the private firm to bear inspection costs.

The provincial cabinet has directed the government and the private firm to split maintenance costs equally (50/50), and asked the private firm to return bank guarantee, and have the vehicles inspected by an expert firm.

The case has raised questions about accountability and the challenges in managing public resources, particularly for security purposes.