Draft bill seeking changes to Police Act 2017 presented in KP assembly

PESHAWAR: Despite reservations expressed by police officers, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has presented a draft bill, seeking amending to the KP Police Act 2017, to the provincial assembly for approval.

Following the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet’s decision on October 7 to amend the Police Act 2017, the Inspector General (IG) of police has been stripped of the powers of posting and transfering District Police Officers (DPOs) and Regional Police Officers (RPOs). These powers have now been shifted to the chief minister, triggering a cold war between the police and elected public representatives.

Earlier, the police officers, during meetings with the KP chief minister and the provincial assembly speaker regarding the amendments, had expressed their serious reservations.

The amendments significantly limit the Provincial Police Officer’s (PPO) powers, restricting them to internal postings and transfers within the Central Police Office.

Once the bill is approved, the posting and transfers of DPOs and RPOs will be carried out by the chief minister through the provincial Establishment Department.

Additionally, the amendments will abolish the Provincial Public Safety Commission and Complaints Authority, replacing it with a new Provincial Complaints Authority to handle public complaints related to the police.

According to KP Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam, these amendments aim to make the police accountable to elected public representatives.

He added that, in addition to establishing the complaints authority at the provincial level, similar authorities will be set up at the divisional and district levels.

On the other hand, police officers argued that the amendments could open the door to political interference within the police department.