The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly has passed a key amendment bill to the Police Act 2024, granting the Chief Minister greater oversight and approval powers over police affairs.
Under the new legislation, the Chief Minister will now be kept informed about both general and specific matters related to the police, with mandatory approval required for transfers of police officers at grade 18 and above.
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Key provisions of the amendment
The bill, presented by government member Akbar Ayub, replaces a previously proposed version and introduces several important changes to the police governance structure in KP. These include:
- Chief Minister’s Oversight: The Chief Minister must be kept informed of all police activities, with approval required for the transfer of senior police officers (grade 18 and above).
- Implementation of Chief Minister’s Orders: Actions taken by the Chief Minister regarding law and order must be implemented by the police, ensuring alignment with government directives.
- Public Safety Commission: Changes in the Provincial Public Safety Commission structure include replacing an Additional Sessions Judge with a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) and appointing 7 Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs). Out of these, 4 will be from the government and 3 from the opposition.
- Independent Members: The government will appoint 7 independent members to the Provincial Public Safety Commission, including a representative from minority communities.
- Complaint Mechanisms: A new Public Safety Committee will be established at the Peshawar level to handle public grievances, while a Complaint Authority will be created at the divisional level to address police-related issues.
This amendment reinforces the role of the Chief Minister in overseeing the police force while ensuring checks and balances through the Public Safety Commission and other bodies.
