Islamabad: The federal government has formally transformed the 110-year-old Frontier Constabulary (FC) into a federal force, effectively retiring the historic title that had long been synonymous with border security and internal order in the country’s northwest.
The restructuring — enacted through the Frontier Constabulary Reorganisation Ordinance 2025 — has stirred political controversy, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where the provincial government and multiple political parties have opposed the decision, calling it an encroachment on provincial authority.
Founded in 1915 under British rule, the Frontier Constabulary was established through the merger of the Border Military Police and Samana Rifles. Tasked with maintaining law and order along the boundary between settled areas and the tribal belt, the force was designed to counter cross-border criminal activities, suppress drug trafficking and smuggling, and provide support to local administrations when needed.
However, over the years, the FC’s original mandate gradually shifted toward internal security duties. In recent decades, the force has primarily been deployed to protect diplomatic missions, strategic installations, and VIPs — roles far removed from its initial frontier responsibilities.
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With the latest ordinance, the newly constituted Federal Force will operate nationwide, including in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to the ordinance, the force’s expanded responsibilities now include:
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Riot control
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Counter-terrorism operations
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Internal security management
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Protection of vital installations and key figures
Commandant Riaz Nazir, the last officer to head the force under its historic title, confirmed that the new structure includes six divisions and 41 wings, along with a Special Protection Wing dedicated to guarding high-profile individuals and sensitive facilities across the country.
Historically, the Frontier Constabulary has served under the leadership of seasoned officers from the Pakistan Police Service (PSP). Since its inception, the force has been commanded by 40 officers, including nine British officers in the colonial era. Its first commandant was Boyle Esq, while Riaz Nazir becomes the last under the now-retired name.
Post-independence, the FC was led by a number of distinguished officers, among them Nawabzada Farid Khan, Pir Sarwar Shah, Muzaffar Bangash, Malik Naveed Khan, and the late Safwat Ghayur, who was martyred in a suicide attack in 2010 and remains one of the most revered figures in the force’s history.
Despite its distinguished legacy, the transition has drawn criticism from political leaders in KP, who argue that the centralisation of such a historically provincial force undermines the spirit of federalism enshrined in the Constitution. Officials in Islamabad, however, maintain that the move is essential for modernising Pakistan’s security apparatus amid evolving national threats.
