The Minister of State of the Interior, Talal Chaudhary, emphasized Monday that the renewed Federal Police (FC) was not a police force.
President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated an ordinance on Sunday that trained the Federal Government to transform the FC, a border security force, into the Federal Police to maintain the law and order, complement the agencies of application of the law and address the diverse security needs in a coordinated manner.
According to the ordinance, the border police were originally established to maintain the law and order in the border and border areas, ensuring the security of these critical regions and preserving public peace in remote territories. However, the changing dynamics of national security, the growing frequency of emergencies, natural disasters, civil disturbances and other emerging threats required a more adaptable and versatile force to respond to such challenges.
Before this ordinance, the use of force by the Government for VIP security often attracted criticism, but now, under the name of protecting “escort”, force can be used freely for the personal security of the elite.
When addressing a press conference today in Faisalabad with the FC commander, Riaz Nazir Gara, Chaudhry said: “The Federal Police will be the Federal Police. No one should confuse it with the Federal Police.”
He said that the border police were being restructured and renowned only to reinforce internal and national security. The minister said that renewal was an institutional need to improve coordination, compensation and the ability of this force in all provinces and territories.
“It is purely a issue related to defense to strengthen national defense by providing support to the agencies for the application of the law,” he added.
He said that the FC had played a fundamental role in the maintenance of peace and security within the country and throughout its borders for almost a century, however, by force it was not granted recognition and benefits comparable to other security forces in Pakistan.
He lamented that despite limited wages and less privileges, FC staff had constantly served the nation with an unwavering dedication.
“Now, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, have decided to transform the FC into a federal force to address the disparity with the structure and scope improved under the new name of the Federal Police,” he added.
He clarified that while the name, identity and central function of the FC was changed as a policeman remained intact. “Restructuring would help ensure that your staff receives wages, training and benefits equal to those of other national security forces,” he added.
He said that the FC had a long role in fighting drug trafficking, smuggling and support for civil law agencies during delicate events such as Muharram, elections and anti-political campaigns.
“Now he will continue to carry out these responsibilities under his new federal framework,” he added.
Chaudhry said that with the reorganization, the jurisdiction of the Federal Police would be expanded to include the four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Cashmira.
He said that the recruitment would open to all citizens throughout the country and that the Federal Government would assume all operational and financial responsibilities, relieving the provinces of any budget burden.
Development caused concern between opposition parties and human rights groups that could be used as a political repression tool.
The announcement occurred after the PTI said that it would organize protests throughout the country as of August 5, the second anniversary of the arrest of the founder of the Imran Khan party. Several protests since their arrest in August 2023 have become violent, in some cases paralyzing the Islamabad capital for days.
PTI leader Zulfikar Bukhari said the changes should be subject to parliamentary discussion.
The new force “should not be used as a trick to silence political opponents, as previously witnessed when the government applied such laws against a large number of leadership and supporters of PTI,” he said.
His concern was bewitched by Haris Khalique, secretary of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission.
“We are alarmed by the changes made to the security and application structure of the country’s law without any debate in Parliament,” Khalique said.
