A controversy has emerged following the decision by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sohail Afridi, to declare bulletproof vehicles provided by the Federal Government as unusable and return them, allegedly without a supporting technical inspection report.
Sources close to Khabarkada express that the technical committee responsible for inspecting the vehicles had not yet prepared its report or raised any objections. Despite this, the Chief Minister was reportedly misled into believing the vehicles were unusable, leading to their rejection. The focus of suspicion regarding this misinformation has now turned to two senior police officers.
The vehicles in question were UN-donated bulletproof cars given to the KP government by the Federal Government, a move that has sparked a national debate due to the CM’s decision to reject them without the formal inspection report. It is reported that Inspector General of Police KP, Zulfiqar Hamid, had requested the bulletproof vehicles from the Ministry of Interior. He was informed that three of the cars were UN donations, bulletproofed in Japan, while two others were intended for the FC (Frontier Corps).
Khabarkada’s special investigation into the return of the vehicles uncovered that a high-ranking police official played a key role in the entire process. This official officially flagged technical flaws in the vehicles, which subsequently prompted the authorities to decide to return them. Crucially, this identification of flaws was made before the technical committee’s report was finalized, and it was on this basis that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi decided to send the vehicles back.
The current situation highlights a broader issue of a shortage and poor maintenance of official vehicles within the KP government.
According to the police department, 105 vehicles (Jeeps, double/single cabin vehicles, and APCs) were distributed to various districts in the last fiscal year, while 11 bulletproof vehicles have become unusable.
The Administration Department also lacks necessary official protocol vehicles. Of the four US-donated B-6 level Land Cruisers received in 2010, only the one used by the Chief Secretary is functional, with the other three (including one with the Chief Minister) being out of order and requiring expensive repairs.
Seven of the 11 Land Rover Jeeps that were bulletproofed in 2011 have also become unusable.
In a separate incident, the provincial government signed a contract in 2014 to purchase four V-8 bulletproof vehicles from a Peshawar dealer for Rs. 145 million. However, due to technical faults, the government refused to accept the vehicles, and the matter is now in court.
The overall status points to a significant problem with the procurement, maintenance, and operational status of the security and protocol fleet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A nine-member committee, headed by Brigadier (R) Musaddiq Abbasi, was formed in August 2024—ten years after an initial assessment—to review the situation of the provincial government’s bulletproof vehicles. The committee recommended that the old bulletproof glass and tires of these vehicles be replaced. While the Cabinet approved this decision, the vehicles’ fundamental mechanical issues persist.
According to the Delegation of Financial Power Rules 2018, a government vehicle is considered expired after 12 years of use or covering 315,000 kilometers. Under these rules, the current fleet will become unusable after a year and a half.
In 2021, the provincial government purchased a BMW bulletproof vehicle for the Chief Minister at a cost of Rs 100 million from an FBR auction, which is currently in use. Providing protocol vehicles to high-ranking officials and foreign delegations is the responsibility of the Administration Department. However, the department currently has only 10 usable vehicles out of the mandatory 75 required for its essential duties.
Sources indicate that numerous bulletproof vehicles have been given to ministers, advisors, and special assistants in violation of rules, as they are only permitted to use vehicles up to 1800cc. Similarly, one bulletproof vehicle is reportedly being used by MPA Anwar Khan, which is also against the established regulations.
Despite the critical security situation in the merged districts and Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the local administrations there have not been provided with bulletproof vehicles. This is a stark contrast to the past when officials in Swat and Malakand were specially provided vehicles following threats.
Conversely, the Police department reports that 75 new bulletproof vehicles have been handed over to senior police officers, including regional and district officers, during the financial year 2024-25.
Additionally, the provision of modern equipment and ammunition is ongoing due to terrorist threats.
Regarding the five bulletproof vehicles provided by the Federation, three were designated for the police and two for the Frontier Corps (FC). However, according to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, these vehicles are “old models” and “unusable,” potentially posing risks to the police. This claim, however, has not been confirmed by any technical report to date.
