Peshawar: (RightNow) Senior officers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have expressed serious concerns over the proposed Police Act. They stated that the new act will reduce police powers and increase political interference.

Officers informed the committee led by Law Minister Aftab Alam that the 2017 Police Act aimed to empower police and eliminate political interference. The new act will transfer the Inspector General’s powers to the Chief Minister.

According to the proposed 2026 act, the Chief Minister will appoint the Inspector General from federal government-nominated officers. If no agreement is reached, the Chief Minister can send three more names to the federal government.

Under this act, the Chief Minister will handle appointments and transfers of DSPs, DPOs, DIGs, and RPOs. The Police Policy Board will be headed by the Chief Minister instead of the Inspector General.

It is noteworthy that the Law Minister stated the Chief Minister has given the committee full authority to improve the police system. The State Minister for Interior mentioned that the provincial government will not be given the authority to appoint the Inspector General.