PESHAWAR: Following public and media criticism, the PTI government in KP has decided to remove controversial provisions from a recently enacted law that had broadened the powers and privileges of provincial lawmakers.
The KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026, which has been passed by the provincial assembly in April entitled members and their spouses to receive blue passports, be granted arms licences, given blanket immunity from preventive detention, Besides, the speaker’s approval was made necessary before any member could be arrested on criminal charges.
The legislation drew widespread backlash, after which Chief Minister Sohail Afridi ordered a review of the law. In a video message posted on X on Friday, Information Minister Shafi Jan said the provincial government had now decided to roll back the disputed parts of the legislation.
“On the directives of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the provincial government has decided to withdraw all controversial provisions incorporated into the KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026″, he stated.
Jan added that the contentious clauses would be revised in line with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Powers, Privileges and Immunities) Act, 1988, parts of which had been repealed by the new law.
Moreover, he said that in this connection, a meeting would be held on Monday next to take parliamentary leaders into confidence. According to the minister, the provincial assembly had been formed on the basis of the people’s genuine mandate and would not take decisions contrary to public aspirations.
He further said the provincial government would hear and address the concerns of journalists as well as the wider public. Separately, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi called for a unified national approach to lawmakers’ salaries, privileges and entitlements.
In a post on X, he asked National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani to convene a meeting of the speakers of all four provincial assemblies and agree on a single harmonised bill for legislators across the country.
Read also: Proposed KP Assembly Bill Sparks Debate Over Media Freedom and Journalist Rights
