The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly is set to withdraw the previously proposed Police Act bill and introduce a revised draft amendment, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Monday.
The new proposal outlines significant changes to the existing law, emphasizing the Chief Minister's increased involvement in maintaining law and order.
Under the revised draft, the implementation of the Chief Minister’s measures concerning peace and security will be made mandatory. The draft also stipulates that the Chief Minister must be kept informed of all general and special police matters, and their approval will be required for the transfer of police officers of grade 18 and above.
The appointment of members to the Safety Commission, which oversees police equipment procurement, will be discussed and observed. Changes also include the removal of the Additional Sessions Judge and the addition of MNAs to the Public Safety Commission. The Speaker of the Assembly will appoint seven MPs to the Provincial Public Safety Commission, with four from the government and three from the opposition.
The government will also appoint seven independent members to the commission, including a minority citizen representative. A Public Safety Committee will be established to handle complaints at the Peshawar level, and a divisional-level complaint authority will be formed for police complaints. Members of the Public Safety Commission will serve for four years.
Sections 21, 24, and 37 of the Police Act 2017 have been deleted in this revised draft. The KP Assembly is expected to present the amendment in the upcoming session.