Pakistan’s federal-provincial row deepens over ‘outdated’ bulletproof vehicles for KP police

A standoff continues between Pakistan’s federal and provincial authorities over bulletproof vehicles allocated for police in the conflict-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, after the provincial government rejected the fleet, calling them outdated and unfit for use.

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the decision, saying the bulletproof vehicles supplied by the federal interior ministry were “outdated and substandard.” He added that providing such equipment was “an insult to the KP police,” vowing to “send them back without delay.”

Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, former adviser to the KP chief minister, took a jibe at the federal authorities, suggesting that federal ministers should be taken on a tour of the province’s border areas in the same vehicles to test their effectiveness. He said the supply of substandard vehicles reflected Islamabad’s “lack of seriousness” in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism.

Zulfiqar Hameed, Inspector General of KP Police, said the force required bulletproof vehicles for officers deployed in Waziristan, Hangu, Kohat, Kurram, and other terrorism-hit districts. “We have also been working to convert available vehicles into bulletproof ones,” he added.

According to the CM House, former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur had approved a plan to convert 105 vehicles into bulletproof ones at an estimated cost of PKR 321 million.

Responding to the criticism, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry denounced the KP government’s decision as a “childish and reckless move” that put police lives at risk. He said the federal government was “fully committed” to providing the province with the resources needed to fight terrorism, adding, “We are not just making promises; we are taking practical steps and will continue to do so.”

Chaudhry questioned the logic behind rejecting the vehicles, asking, “When terrorists are armed with advanced weapons, isn’t it sheer incompetence to deprive your officers of bulletproof vehicles? Both the officers and the public have the right to question such a mindset.”

He maintained that the vehicles met international standards and were designed for anti-terrorism operations to ensure the safety of police personnel.

A senior KP police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the bulletproof vehicles in question were nearly 15 years old and had previously been used by an international organization. However, the official clarified that the armor plating was installed using imported technology, not local modifications, and that their core protective functionality “remains intact.”

According to police sources, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi handed over keys to three bulletproof vehicles for regional police officers on October 18. But following the provincial government’s decision to return them, the vehicles remain parked in Islamabad.