Pakistan federal government opposes KP Police Act 2026

The Pakistani federal government has expressed strong reservations regarding the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police Act 2026. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry raised concerns that the legislation could undermine the police command and control structure in the province.

Minister Chaudhry stated that while the 18th Amendment grants provinces specific powers, provincial legislation must remain within constitutional and legal limits. He argued that the new framework shifts significant authority over the appointment and posting of officers—from the rank of DSP up to the Inspector General—into the hands of the provincial chief minister.

The federal ministers warned that concentrating these administrative powers could negatively impact police morale, discipline, and the force's ability to combat terrorism. They emphasized that the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) rules, upheld by the judiciary, provide the necessary basis for the force's administrative structure and should not be overridden by provincial law.