Details of the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Act 2026 indicate that a number of changes have been proposed to the police force’s command, policy, deployment, recruitment, oversight, and accountability systems, with provisions that would further expand the roles of the provincial government and the Chief Minister.
According to the available details, the proposed legislation seeks to alter the existing police command structure and administrative framework while introducing new procedures for the appointment and transfer of the Inspector General (IG), Regional Police Officers (RPOs), District Police Officers (DPOs), and other senior police officials.
The proposed Act would place the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the helm of the Police Policy Board, bringing police policy, priorities, and annual planning under the authority of the provincial political administration.
In contrast, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Act 2017 placed the Provincial Police Officer at the head of the Police Policy Board, with senior police officials serving as board members. The 2017 law also stipulated that police administration in the province would remain under the authority of the Provincial Police Officer.
Under the proposed legislation, the federal government would provide the Chief Minister with a panel of candidates for the appointment of the Inspector General of Police, from which the Chief Minister would select the police chief. The available details further indicate that the Chief Minister would have the authority to reject the proposed panel.
The proposed legislation would also increase the provincial government’s role in the IG’s performance evaluation and recall. The draft of the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Act 2026 suggests significant changes to the administrative, financial, and operational affairs of the police force.
Under the proposed Act, the provincial government would issue the notification for the appointment of the Inspector General (IG) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If the provincial government is dissatisfied with the IG’s performance, it could request additional names from the federal government for consideration as a replacement.
In the absence of the IG of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Additional IG (Headquarters) would assume charge as acting IG. The proposed Act would also vest the authority to transfer DSPs and ASPs in the Home Secretary, while the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would oversee the transfers of SPs, SSPs, and Additional IGs. The Administration Department would issue the formal appointment notifications for these officers.
Under the proposed law, authority over police postings and transfers would be delegated to the provincial government. The draft further stipulates that the police would not submit direct responses in legal matters. Instead, responses approved by the Law Department and the Advocate General’s Office would be submitted on behalf of the police.
The draft also proposes transferring the chairmanship of the Police Policy Board from the Inspector General to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the proposed Act, the Chief Minister would have the authority to formulate operational, administrative, and financial policies for the police. Policies relating to administrative matters would also be subject to directives issued by the provincial government.
Overall, the proposed Police Act 2026 outlines an expanded role for the provincial government in key administrative, financial, operational, and policy matters concerning the police. It also proposes greater government involvement in the appointment and transfer of senior police officers and in the formulation of police policies.