PESHAWAR – The KP Govt has decided to end the Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulations, an ordinance granting military authorities sweeping powers in civilian areas. Alongside this, the provincial government announced it would withdraw its appeal from the Supreme Court challenging the ordinance.
The decision came during the first cabinet meeting under newly appointed Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. After the session, Information Advisor Shafeeullah Jan told the media that the KP Govt had “serious concerns” regarding the ordinance and its impact on civil governance and rights.
Legal experts, however, warned that the provincial move may not have an immediate legal effect. The federal government still has a pending appeal in the Supreme Court regarding the ordinance, meaning the law cannot be simply repealed by the provincial cabinet. Some argue that if the KP Govt withdraws its appeal, the case may lose legal significance in the court, potentially influencing the final verdict.
Introduced to combat extremism in tribal regions (FATA and PATA), the Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulations allowed military forces to operate anywhere in the province.
Under the law, the military could arrest suspected militants and hold them in detention centers without court oversight. Residents of operational areas were required to vacate in advance, with special attention given to women, children, and the elderly.
A board of two civilian and two military officers supervised detention centers. Detainees could not be held for more than 120 days, and torture was strictly prohibited. Initially limited to tribal areas, the ordinance was secretly extended to the entire KP province in 2019 by PTI Governor Shah Farman, sparking outrage when revealed during a Peshawar High Court challenge.
In other news read more about Groom & 11 Arrested for Celebratory Gunfire in Peshawar Wedding – Full Story
While the KP Govt has approved scrapping the ordinance, the law remains in force until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict. Observers warn that the situation could have significant legal, political, and human rights implications in the province.
