Pakistan’s KP establishes dedicated police unit to counter rising militancy

• Special Branch personnel will handle intelligence, security, verification, surveys and surveillance duties
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen surge in militant attacks, mostly claimed by Pakistani Taliban or TTP group

PESHAWAR: The chief minister of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Sunday approved the formation of the Special Branch as a specialized police unit, the Chief Minister’s Office said, as the province reels from a surge in deadly militant attacks.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in Peshawar. Afridi has vowed to strengthen the province’s police force and provide it with necessary resources as militant outfits such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have stepped up attacks on law enforcement personnel in recent months.

The chief minister formally gave the green signal for the Special Branch to be formed into a dedicated police unit. Its personnel are responsible for intelligence, security, verification, surveys and surveillance duties, the Chief Minister’s Office said.

“The police are a key pillar in the fight against terrorism; all resources will be provided to enhance the capacity of the Special Branch,” Afridi was quoted as saying by his office.

The chief minister approved the creation of 1,221 new posts for the Special Branch, Rs1,820 million [$6.44 million] for infrastructure and Rs904.7 million [$3.2 million] for motor vehicles.

He said the new police unit will be provided with 98 vehicles and 404 motorcycles on a priority basis. It will also be given an additional Rs2,543.9 million [$9 million] to buy technical equipment and technology, he added.

“The Special Branch will be upgraded along modern lines to meet intelligence and counterterrorism requirements,” Afridi said.

The chief minister was briefed that the Special Branch defused two suicide jackets, 32 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 70 rocket shells and 288 hand grenades this year.

Officials said last year, the Special Branch handled security for 635 political gatherings and conducted verification of weapons and explosive licenses.

Pakistan’s rising militancy problem has been compounded by tensions between the center and the KP government. Afridi has criticized the center for not taking it into confidence on strategies related to militancy and providing the province with inadequate resources.

The center denies the allegations and accuses the provincial government of failing to clamp down on “terrorist” groups operating in the province.