Lawmakers voice concern over Wapda’s proposed ‘powers of arrest’

Islamabad: Lawmakers have expressed concerns over arrest powers outlined in the proposed Wapda Security Force (WSF) Act 2026. This legislation could permit WSF personnel to detain individuals within a 1km radius of any project or installation. During a National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources meeting, PPP members Javed Ali Shah and Saba Talpur raised objections to the term 'force' in the bill's name, citing Supreme Court rulings prohibiting the creation of new security agencies with such terminology.

Wapda Chairman Gen Muhammad Saeed clarified that the bill's language had been reviewed with provincial governments, stating the arrest powers would be applied only in cases of trespass within or around project areas or installations. The WSF's powers would mirror those of the Airports Security Force (ASF), which safeguards both airport premises and external areas.

According to a legal team from the Ministry of Law, any arrest under the proposed law would adhere to the criminal procedure code (CrPC), and arrested individuals would be promptly handed over to the police. The team also emphasized that the Supreme Court's prohibition on private security agencies using the term 'force' does not apply to state-sanctioned agencies like the WSF.

The decision to establish a separate security force emerged following two terrorist attacks on the over $6 billion Dasu Hydropower Project in July 2021 and March 2024, resulting in the deaths of Chinese and Pakistani workers. Initially, CPEC-related security covered the Dasu project, but Saeed noted that CPEC North and South Divisions were responsible for their own security, while provincial governments faced challenges in allocating forces to Wapda.