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Law enforcement in Pakistan (Urdu: ادارہ ہائی نفاذِ قانون، پاکستان) is one of the three main components of the criminal justice system of Pakistan, alongside the judiciary and the prisons.[1][2] The country has a mix of federal, provincial and territorial police forces with both general and specialised functions, but the senior ranks of all the provincial forces and most of the federal ones are manned by members of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP). The PSP is one of the most prestigious part of the Central Superior Services, Pakistan's main civil service organisation.[1][2][3] Federal law enforcement agencies are generally overseen by the Ministry of Interior of the Government of Pakistan, while provincial police forces are overseen by a department of the government of that province.
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Federal Law Enforcement
- Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation
- National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency
- National Highways and Motorway Police
- National Counter Terrorism Authority
- Animal Quarantine Department
- Department of Plant Protection
- Federal Investigation Agency
- Pakistan Railways Police
- Financial Monitoring Unit
- Airports Security Force
- Anti-Narcotics Force
- Pakistan Customs
Training and Policy
Police Forces
Paramilitary forces
The four provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan) each have their own police force, organised to suit the challenges of that locality, with their own specialised and elite units. Each police force has a Commissioner of Police appointed as Inspector-General who is a senior officer from the Police Service of Pakistan.[4] Some provincial police forces are routinely supported by federal paramilitary units operating in that area. All provincial police forces contain Counter Terrorism Department and Special Branch.
The traditional uniform of Pakistani provincial police officers is a black shirt with tan trousers. In 2017, police in Punjab transitioned to an olive green uniform, but reverted to the traditional uniform in 2019.[5] In 2020, all provinces decided to adopt the uniform worn in Islamabad - light blue or white shirts with dark blue trousers.[6]
Balochistan
- The Balochistan Police operates in 7 districts of Balochistan province.[7]
- The Balochistan Constabulary is a reserve police unit of the Balochistan Police.[7][8][9]
- The Balochistan Levies is a paramilitary police force operating in 23 of Balochistan's 30 districts.[7][10][11]
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police is the main civilian police force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.[12]
- The Reserve Frontier Police acts as the reserve unit of the KP Police.
- The Special Combat Unit is for counter-terrorism operations.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Levies (11,739 personnel)[13] are raised by provincial or local governments to provide additional security in their areas. They include:
- The Levies and the Khasadar Forces have been absorbed into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police or pensioned off.[14]
Punjab
- The Punjab Police operates in the Punjab province.[15]
- The Dolphin Force deals with street crime.
- The Elite Police performs counter-terrorism operations.
- The Police Qaumi Razakars are a support force for the Punjab Police in their duties.[16][17]
- Punjab Highway Patrol
- Punjab Prisons manage 43 prisons.
Sindh
- The Sindh Police operates in the Sindh province.
- The Special Security Unit is a specialized counterterrorism and security unit, based in Karachi, with operational jurisdiction extending throughout Sindh. The SSU was established in 2010 in response to increased rates of terrorism.
Territories
Pakistan's capital has its own Islamabad Police and subordinates units such as Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP). The Azad Kashmir Police operates in the semi-autonomous Azad Kashmir. The Gilgit-Baltistan Police operates in the semi-autonomous Gilgit-Baltistan region.
| Police Service of Pakistan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Common name | Pakistan Police |
| Abbreviation | PSP |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1948 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | PAK |
| Governing body | Ministry of Interior |
| General nature | |
| Notables | |
| Award |
|
The Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) replaced the Indian Imperial Police in 1948, a year after Pakistan became independent from the British Raj. The service commands and provides leadership to federal, provincial, and territorial police forces. Its officers are assigned to different districts, provinces and stations across Pakistan. Most of the country's highest profile law enforcement positions are staffed by members of the PSP, including Inspector Generals of provinces, the Director Generals of the Intelligence Bureau and Federal Investigation Agency, and superintendents of the Frontier Constabulary & National Highways and Motorway Police. Officers are recruited through an extremely competitive examination held once a year by the Federal Public Service Commission. Those selected then must undergo a six month training programme known as CTP at the Civil Services Academy (CSA) in Lahore, and a further 18 months of specialised training occurs at the National Police Academy Islamabad.
Primarily operated through the four provincial governments and the Islamabad Capital Territory,[18] each police service has a jurisdiction extending only within the relevant province or territory.[19][20]
The law enforcement agencies are also involved in providing first response to emergencies and other threats to public safety as well as protecting the infrastructure and maintaining order in the country. Apart from investigating crime scenes, criminal acts, suspected unlawful activities, and detention of suspected criminals pending judicial action, the law enforcement agencies (primarily police) also perform duties that include the service and enforcement of warrants, writs, and other orders of the courts.
Designations of PSP officers
| Grade | Police Ranks/Provincial Appointments | Secretarial/Federal Appointments |
|---|---|---|
| BPS-17 |
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| BPS-18 |
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| BPS-19 |
|
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| BPS-20 |
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| BPS-21 |
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| BPS-22 |
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| BPS-22 |
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- Federal Security Force, a defunct law enforcement agency
- Civil Armed Forces
- List of cases of law enforcement brutality in Pakistan
- Crime in Pakistan
- Organised crime in Pakistan
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