{
  "id": 5484636,
  "title": "Lawmakers voice concern over Wapda’s proposed ‘powers of arrest’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/lawmakers-voice-concern-over-wapdas-proposed-powers-of-arrest-5484636",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T02:03:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2027341/lawmakers-voice-concern-over-wapdas-proposed-powers-of-arrest"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Islamabad: During a National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources meeting, lawmakers expressed concerns over the proposed Wapda Security Force (WSF) Act 2026's arrest powers. PPP members Javed Ali Shah and Saba Talpur raised objections to the use of 'force' in the bill's name, citing Supreme Court rulings against creating new security agencies with that term. Wapda Chairman Gen Muhammad Saeed clarified that the bill's language had been discussed with provincial governments, and the 'powers to arrest' would only be used for trespassing within a 1km radius of projects. He added that the WSF's authority mirrored that of the Airports Security Force (ASF) overseeing both airport areas and surrounding regions. A Ministry of Law legal team assured that arrests would follow the criminal procedure code (CrPC), with arrested individuals immediately handed over to police. They also noted that the Supreme Court's earlier prohibition on private security agencies using 'force' was unrelated to state-sanctioned forces. The WSF's creation emerged after two terrorist attacks on engineers and workers at the $6 billion Dasu Hydropower Project in July 2021 and March 2024, resulting in numerous deaths. Initially, CPEC-related security covered the Dasu project, but Saeed stated that CPEC North and South Divisions maintained separate responsibilities, and provincial forces often struggled to support Wapda.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers have expressed reservations over the powers of arrest contained in the proposed Wapda Security Force (WSF) Act 2026, which could allow its personnel to detain individuals within a 1km radius of any project or installation. During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources, PPP members Javed Ali Shah and Saba Talpur voiced concern over the use of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn Business",
        "title": "Lawmakers voice concern over Wapda’s proposed ‘powers of arrest’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/lawmakers-voice-concern-over-wapdas-proposed-powers-of-arrest",
        "published": "2026-09-04T02:03:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}