KP Police 2024: Progress Amid Challenges
By Aishma Gul.
2024 has witnessed some remarkable accomplishments by KP Police aimed at curbing crime and ensuring the safety of citizens. These included the registration of 211,828 FIRs, with the arrest of 227,094 suspects. Robbery, car theft, extortion, and illegal arms smuggling — were just some of the crimes that sharply declined. The recovery of thousands of looted goods worth more than PKR 1.12 billion also highlighted the police’s commitment to providing justice.
Counterterrorism renewed its prominence in the agenda. CTD neutralised 270 terrorists and detained 802 suspects including as many as 32 high-profile targets. These operations also crippled notorious outfits like the TTP Gandapur Group and the Mohsin Qadir Group. It foiled several terrorist attacks, including suicide blasts in Peshawar, and seized very highs of weapons, voters including 7 suicide vests, 87 AK-47 rifles, and 4470 rounds of ammunition.
The war against narcotics was a big success. A total of 28,097 kg of drugs, comprising 22,575 kg of hashish, 3,240 kg of methamphetamine (Ice), 1,695 kg of heroin, and 587 kg of opium, were detected by police. Alcohol is also recovered amounting to 23,566 liters. Such seizures are indicative of the extent of the narcotics trade in the region, with an acute need for improved cooperation with anti-narcotics agencies and public awareness campaigns.
During the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP), a total of 12,601 search-and-strike operations were conducted, in which 67,983 were arrested while 15,801 weapons were recovered. It also saw 81,433 snapcheck posts which resulted in the arrest of 1,02,952 suspects while 24,566 weapons were also seized. The actions dismantled criminal and terrorist networks throughout the province.
This 2024 term was focused heavily on the welfare of police personnel. And 281 of the fallen officers’ families were recruited as well, bringing the quota for the families of martyrs to 12.5%. They also provided payment assistance of more than PKR 44.44 crore for medical, educational, and other needs. And 12,432 officers received advanced training to increase their skills.
Public trust was also bolstered by community engagement. 70,000 people participated in different traffic awareness campaigns, and 1,000 helmets were distributed for road safety. The DRCs resolved 3,452 cases, preventing them from escalating. The Ababeel Squad answered 58,740 emergency calls, providing evidence of the force’s devotion to public professionals.
The year was marked by technological advancements. 23 Districts were also provided Command and Control Centers through which real-time surveillance for crime prevention was introduced. Alongside this, a Security Unit of 10,000 personnel was established focusing on urban areas under a senior officer’s command (DIG rank) rule.
The KP Police made a tremendous sacrifice in 2024, with 149 officers martyred and 232 injured while on duty. These deaths highlight the dangers faced day in and day out by law enforcement in their job to protect the public.
At the district level, there were successes such as preventing suicide bombings in Peshawar, breaking up drug gangs in Mardan, stabilizing Swat through operations against illegal groups, and making high-profile arrests in DI Khan.
They also demonstrate a determination toward enacting its goals of reducing crime and improving local engagement. Even with challenges ahead, their performance in 2024 demonstrates a solid base for continued public safety advancements.
