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

According to Dawn, lawmakers have raised concerns about arrest powers in the proposed Wapda Security Force Act 2026, which could let its staff hold people within 1km of a project site or installation. During a National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources session, PPP members Javed Ali Shah and Saba Talpur objected to the word 'force' in the name. They cited Supreme Court orders that barred creating any new security agency with that term.

Wapda Chairman retired Gen Muhammad Saeed told the panel that the wording had been discussed with provinces and that arrest powers would only be used for trespass around a project area. He compared the proposed powers with those held by the Airports Security Force, and said such measures would be unavoidable to protect major infrastructure. A Ministry of Law team added that arrests would follow the CrPC and that detainees within the radius would be handed to police immediately.

The legal team also said the Supreme Court ruling applied to private security firms and had no bearing on state-sanctioned agencies. The proposed force was prompted by two terrorist attacks on engineers and workers at the Dasu Hydropower Project, in July 2021 and March 2024, which killed several Chinese and Pakistani workers. Mr Saeed added that the CPEC North and South Divisions already had their own duties, and provinces had difficulty supplying forces to Wapda.