K-P cabinet approves broad police reforms

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet on Wednesday approved the K-P Police Act 2026, introducing sweeping reforms aimed at making the provincial police force more accountable, professional and efficient. The new legislation empowers the provincial government to return the services of federal police officers, including the Inspector General, in cases of unsatisfactory performance. It also establishes a clear separation between police policy and operational matters, creates new oversight boards, and overhauls the investigation and dispute-resolution systems. Provincial Minister for Information, Science, Technology and Information Technology Shafi Jan briefed the media after the cabinet meeting, describing the proposed law as an important step towards introducing key reforms in the police system. He said the legislation would make the police more accountable to the public, strengthen the investigation system, improve officers' professional development, and distinctly separate policy from operational affairs. Under the new Act, a Police Policy Board will be set up under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, while a Police Operations Board will be headed by the Inspector General of Police. The provincial police chief will be required to prepare an annual policing plan outlining priorities, performance targets and future actions, and present it to the Policy Board for approval. The law also provides for the appointment of Regional Investigation Officers across the province after its passage by the provincial assembly. Minister Shafi Jan said this measure is designed to enhance the police's investigative capacity and professional competence. Appointments and transfers of Regional Police Officers and District Police Officers will be regulated under the K-P Rules of Business 1985 to ensure greater accountability. The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, was attended by Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, the Inspector General of Police, departmental secretaries and cabinet members. Afridi alleged that all routes into the province were being sealed off, warning that such a move would effectively cut K-P off from the rest of the country while leaving other parts of Pakistan open. "If all routes to the province are closed, the rest of Pakistan will remain open, but no one will be able to enter or leave Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa," Afridi said while addressing the meeting. He questioned the motive behind the alleged blockade, asking what it meant to sever the province from the rest of Pakistan and whether a conspiracy was underway to repeat the tragedy of East Pakistan. The chief minister issued a clear message to those he said were behind any such plot: "Pakistan is ours. Whoever conspires to divide Pakistan or separate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from it should know that we were Pakistanis, we are Pakistanis, and InshaAllah we will remain Pakistanis." Afridi further claimed that for the past three to four days, "thugs in plain clothes" had been targeting PTI workers, organisational office-bearers and elected representatives across the province.