Minister denies politics in FC revamp

FAISALABAD:

Minister of State for Interior and senior PMLN leader Senator Talal Chaudhary has said that Frontier Constabulary (FC) is being restructured and renamed Federal Constabulary only to bolster internal and national security of Pakistan.

He was addressing a news conference at the Deputy Commissioner's office on Monday. FC Commandant Riaz Nazir Gara was also present.

The minister's statement came a day after President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated an ordinance empowering the federal government to transform the FC, a border security force, into the Federal Constabulary to maintain law and order, supplement the law enforcement agencies, and address the diverse security needs in a coordinated manner.

"This will be a new force. This will be a stronger force.

We need this force for internal security," Chaudhry said, adding that the president had already approved amendments in the law introducing changes in the paramilitary force.

The decision to revamp FC prompts concern among opposition parties and human rights groups that it could be used as a tool of political repression.

The minister, however, said that the revamping of FC is not a politically-motivated decision but it is an institutional necessity to improve coordination, compensation and capability of this force across all provinces and territories of Pakistan.

It is purely a defence-related issue to strengthen national defence by providing support to the law enforcement agencies, he added.

He said that the FC had played a pivotal role in maintaining peace and security within the country and along its borders for nearly a century, yet this force has not been accorded the recognition and benefits comparable to other security forces in Pakistan.

He lamented that despite limited salaries and fewer privileges, FC personnel have consistently served the nation with unwavering dedication.

"Now Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have decided to transform FC into a federal force to address the disparity with upgraded structure and scope under the new name of Federal Constabulary," he added.

He clarified that while the name is being changed, the identity and core function of the FC as a constabulary remain intact. The restructuring would help ensure that its personnel receive salaries, training and benefits equal to those of other national security forces, he added.

He said that the FC has long involvement in combating drug trafficking, smuggling and supporting civil law enforcement agencies during sensitive events like Muharram, elections and anti-polio campaigns. Now it would continue to carry out these responsibilities under its new federal framework, he added.

He said that with the reorganisation, the jurisdiction of Federal Constabulary would be expanded to include all four provinces as well as Gilgit/Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

He said that recruitment will be opened to all citizens from across the country and the federal government would bear all operational and financial responsibilities, relieving the provinces of any budgetary burden.

The FC revamp would include updated training modules, capacity-building initiatives and a modernized command structure designed to uplift the morale and effectiveness of its personnel, he added.

FC Commandant Riaz Nazir Gara provided historical context and said that the FC was established in 1913, originally known as the North-West Frontier Constabulary. It was operated under an act that is now over 100 years old.

Recognising the urgent need for reform, he said that the FC would be realigned into a more robust and federally managed institution with clearly defined command tiers including platoons, companies and wings.

He said that the FC has 41 wings and its 36 wings are currently deployed under the security division. The revamped structure would streamline these units for improving efficiency, he added.

Commandant Gara disclosed that 423 FC personnel have laid down their lives in the line of duty which is a testament to the commitment and sacrifice of this force.

The reorganisation would help honor these sacrifices by providing a better command structure, improved facilities and clearer career pathways for FC members, he added.

The State Minister and FC Commandant both urged the public, media and stakeholders to carefully read the new ordinance related to the Federal Constabulary to avoid misconceptions.

This transformation is a strategic and institutional reform which would help address the internal security challenges and enhance operational capability of one of the oldest law enforcement bodies of the country, they added.

Meanwhile, the development prompted concern among opposition parties and human rights groups that it could be used as a tool of political repression.

The announcement came after the PTI said it would stage nationwide protests starting on August 5, the second anniversary of party founder Imran Khan's arrest. Several such protests since his August 2023 arrest have turned violent, in some cases paralysing the capital Islamabad for days.

PTI leader Zulfikar Bukhari said the changes should be subject to parliamentary discussion.

The new force "should not be used as a gimmick to silence political opponents, as has been previously witnessed when the government applied such laws against the PTI leadership and supporters", he said.

His concern was echoed by Haris Khalique, secretary of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

"We are alarmed by the changes being made to the security and law enforcement structure of the country without any debate in parliament," Khalique said.