KP Seeks Police Chief Change as Federal Approval Awaited
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has moved to replace provincial Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, setting in motion a high-level administrative process that now requires federal approval. The development was reported from Islamabad on Wednesday and comes at a time when policing, security management and civil administration remain central concerns in the province.
According to the report, the provincial government has formally approached the federal authorities to initiate the transfer of the current police chief. The matter has reached the Establishment Division, which plays a key role in processing senior bureaucratic and police appointments before they are forwarded for final approval.
A panel of three senior police officers has been submitted for consideration as possible replacements. The names under review are Muhammad Ali Babakhel, Saeed Khan Wazir and Abbas Ahsan, all of whom are being considered for the province’s top police post.
Officials familiar with the process indicated that the Establishment Division will now prepare a formal summary and send it to the Prime Minister’s Office. The change cannot take effect immediately because the appointment and transfer of a provincial police chief require approval from the prime minister before a notification is issued.
The decision highlights the complex balance between provincial preference and federal authority in Pakistan’s senior administrative appointments. While a provincial government may request a change in the police leadership, the final procedural steps are handled through the federal establishment framework.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has remained one of Pakistan’s most sensitive provinces from a law-and-order perspective because of its border geography, counterterrorism challenges and pressure on police resources. Any change at the level of IGP is therefore closely watched by political observers, security officials and the public.
The expected transfer may also signal the provincial government’s desire to reshape its policing priorities. A new police chief could influence operational planning, coordination with district police leadership, internal postings and the province’s broader security response.
For citizens, the most important test will be whether the transition improves public safety, police responsiveness and confidence in law enforcement. In a province facing recurring security and governance challenges, leadership continuity and institutional clarity remain crucial.
The next step is the preparation and submission of the summary to the Prime Minister’s Office. If the prime minister approves the proposal, the Establishment Division is expected to issue a formal notification, after which the new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief will assume charge.