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

Lawmakers voice concern over Wapda's proposed 'powers of arrest'.

Key points

• Khaleeq Kiani Published September 4, 2026 Updated September 4, 2026 07: 03am.
• ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers have expressed reservations over the powers of arrest contained in the proposed Wapda Security Force (WSF) Act 2026.
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• Khaleeq Kiani is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn, specializing in political economy, governance, business, finance, macroeconomics and energy.
• Such measures, he remarked, would be unavoidable if major infrastructure and installations were to be secured.

Khaleeq Kiani Published September 4, 2026 Updated September 4, 2026 07: 03am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers have expressed reservations over the powers of arrest contained in the proposed Wapda Security Force (WSF) Act 2026. It could allow its personnel to detain individuals within a 1km radius of any project or installation.

During a session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources, PPP members Javed Ali Shah and Saba Talpur voiced concern over the apply of the 'force' terminology, recalling Sup­reme Court orders that forbade the creation of any new security age­n­­cy using the term 'force' in its name.

In response, Wapda Chairman retired Gen Muhammad Saeed informed the panel the bill's language had been discussed with provincial governments, and the 'powers to arrest' would only be employed in case of trespass in or around a project area or installations.

He remarked the powers envisioned for the proposed force were in line with those afforded to the Airports Security Force (ASF) which was responsible for security within the airport jurisdictions as well as outside the premises. Such measures, he remarked, would be unavoidable if major infrastructure and installations were to be secured.

Notably, a legal team from the Ministry of Law informed the panel that any arrest under the proposed law would follow the criminal procedure code (CrPC), and that any person arrested within a 1km radius of the project would immediately be handed over to police.

They additionally clarified that the apex court had barred private security agencies from using the term 'force', adding that the SC decision had nothing to do with state-sanctioned security agencies.

For context, the decision to create a standalone force came after two terrorist attacks on engineers and workers of the over $6 billion Dasu Hydropower Project, in July 2021 and March 2024. It maintained the lives of a number of Chinese and Pakistani workers.

Initially, CPEC-related security was extended to the Dasu project, but Mr Saeed remarked the CPEC North and South Divisions had their own responsibilities while provinces additionally faced challenges in providing their forces to the Wapda. Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2026.

Khaleeq Kiani is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn, specializing in political economy, governance, business, finance, macroeconomics and energy. He can be discovered on X at @khaleeqkiani.

Taken together, the developments around lawmakers voice concern over Wapda's proposed 'powers of arrest' point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.