KP cabinet approves draft of amendment to Sentencing Act

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sentencing (Amendment) Act 2025” Bill that provided for bringing consistency in the decisions/ judgments regarding sentencing and better implementation.

An official handout said that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur chaired the 28th meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet.

The cabinet members, chief secretary, additional chief secretary Home, Senior Member Board of Revenue, administrative secretaries and Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the meeting.

The amendments specifically relate to sections 17, 18 and 20 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sentencing Act, 2021.

The variation observed in sentencing for the same crime in provisions where discretion was allowed had necessitated the amendment.

The Bill clarified the status of the employees of the council that has hitherto not been defined.

The cabinet approved Rs567.70 million under Hybrid Security Model and procurement of different equipment for Police to enable it take over the full security management in Buner and Upper Chitral within 15 days.

It is worth mentioning that the Apex Committee had decided to introduce Hybrid Security Model (HSM) for 6 districts i.e. Buner, Swat, Upper Chitral, Mohmand, Khyber and Lakki Marwat.

The Hybrid Security Model where either Army or Police is in lead role thus complete hand-over of security to Police there. The procurement will include Arms & Ammunition, Plants & Machinery Transport and other assets.

The cabinet directed to convene open kachehries with the general public of the area to objectively acquire the views of the stakeholders for detachment of the two villages/mouzas Darshi and Mathokhiel from Tehsil Banda Daud Shah, Karak and attachment thereof with Thall tehsil of Hangu.

The cabinet approved funds for clearing the liabilities of outsourced hospitals Daggar, Ghaljo, Mamadgat, Mola Khan Sarai, Toi Khula and Darazinda, RHC Garamchashma and RHC Mastuj. It approved the establishment of Jawan Markaz in Karak.

The cabinet accorded approval to the appointment of non-official members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical Transplantation Regulatory Authority. The three years tenure of the seven (07) non-official members of the Authority had already expired on 3-09-2023.

As per Section 5(4) of the Act, the Authority shall consist of 11 members including 08 non-official and 03 official members i.e. Minister Health, Secretary Health and Administrator of the Regulatory Authority.

As per Section 5, sub-sections (5 & 6) of the Act, Government may appoint one member against each specialty/field as non-official members for a period of three years. The Authority regulates, monitors and controls all the transplantation of human organs and various committees under the Act. It recognizes medical institutions and hospitals for practice of operative surgery in transplantation of human organs.

The cabinet approved Rs.56.028 million and exemption of tendering process for Ramzan Dastarkhawan for FY 2024-25. The exemption from tendering/bidding process was granted under Section-14(1) (i) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (KP-PPRA) Act 2012, Rules 2014 in the best public interest as normal procedure for procurement of food takes time. Under the scheme during the month of Ramazan free Sehr and Iftar are provided to all those individuals who are stationed with patients in DHQ and THQ hospitals etc.

The cabinet approved amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) Act, 2016 which aims at strengthening the working of the Commission. The Commission oversees implementation of laws, policies and programs related to women and proposes new measures where there exist gaps.

The cabinet decided to avail the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) funding of US $30 million for Malakand Infrastructure Project if the federal government provided it as “grant” and not as “loan”.

The cabinet approved the inclusion of the construction of RCC Bridge connecting Jankass Barikot with Main Kumrat road, in Upper Dir in the upcoming Annual Development Programme.