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 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 told the panel the bill’s language had been discussed with provincial governments, and the ‘powers to arrest’ would only be used in case of trespass in or around a project area or installations.
He said 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 said, would be unavoidable if major infrastructure and installations were to be secured.
A legal team from the Ministry of Law told 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 also 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.
The decision to create a standalone force came in the wake of two terrorist attacks on engineers and workers of the over $6 billion Dasu Hydropower Project, in July 2021 and March 2024, which claimed the lives of several Chinese and Pakistani workers.
Initially, CPEC-related security was extended to the Dasu project, but Mr Saeed said the CPEC North and South Divisions had their own responsibilities while provinces also faced problems in providing their forces to the Wapda.
Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2026
