Lawmakers raise concerns after Wapda force given power to arrest people

Lawmakers have raised concerns over a proposed Wapda Security Force (WSF) that could arrest people within a one-kilometre radius of its projects and installations.

The issue came up during a meeting of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Water Resources, where Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers Javed Ali Shah and Saba Talpur also questioned the use of the word “force” in the proposed WSF Act 2026.

The lawmakers referred to Supreme Court (SC) orders that barred private security agencies from using the term “force” in their names.

Wapda Chairman retired Gen Muhammad Saeed told the committee that the bill has been discussed with provincial governments and said that the arrest powers would apply in cases of trespassing in or around Wapda projects and installations.

Saeed compared the proposed powers with those given to the Airports Security Force, which has security responsibilities within airport jurisdictions as well as areas outside airport premises.

He said that such powers would be necessary to protect major infrastructure and installations.

The Ministry of Law’s legal team told the committee that Wapda security personnel would have to follow the Criminal Procedure Code when making an arrest.

The legal team also clarified that anyone arrested within the one km radius would be handed over to police immediately.

On the use of the word “force”, the ministry’s representatives said the SC’s decision applied to private security agencies and did not prevent the state from creating security agencies using the term.

The proposed standalone force comes after two attacks on engineers and workers at the Dasu Hydropower Project in July 2021 and March 2024, which killed several Chinese and Pakistani workers.

Security arrangements linked to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) were initially extended to the Dasu project. Saeed told the committee that the CPEC North and South divisions have their own responsibilities, while provincial governments have also faced difficulties in providing personnel to secure Wapda projects.