KP CM orders review of law expanding assembly members’ privileges

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday ordered a review of provisions in a recently enacted law that broadens the powers, immunities and privileges of members of the provincial assembly, after criticism from journalists and public backlash.

The law, titled the KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026, was passed on April 30 and signed by the governor on May 6. According to the reported provisions, it extends lawmakers’ privileges to include lifetime official passports for members and their spouses, immunity from preventive detention, and eligibility for licences for up to eight non-prohibited-bore weapons.

In a statement issued by his office, the chief minister said the amendments should be revisited in light of the criticism.

“I hope that the amendments made to the Act will be reviewed. Any future steps will be taken in the public interest", he stated.

While chairing a cabinet meeting, Mr Afridi said the provisions relating to media persons should be reconsidered because of the objections being raised. He said PTI founder Imran Khan had consistently supported freedom of expression and wanted journalists to openly criticise where necessary. The chief minister added, however, that he and his administration had also been criticised and alleged that some black channels were spreading misleading propaganda against the government.

Mr Afridi said that, unlike other provinces where journalists critical of the government were subjected to disappearances, violence and harassment, the KP government had not taken any illegal step against anyone. He said action was taken only through legal means if someone spread false propaganda. He added that the assembly speaker had been asked to consult parliamentary leaders and review concerns raised by the public and media persons. The chief minister also claimed that the KP Assembly was the only assembly formed through a public mandate.

Lawmakers defend the legislation

At a joint press conference, members from both treasury and opposition benches said misunderstanding had emerged even though clauses in the 2026 law resembled provisions in an earlier law passed in 1988, including those concerning blue passports for MPAs. The new law repealed the 1988 legislation on the same subject.

Information Minister Shafi Jan said the draft cleared by the cabinet did not contain the clause on blue passports for lawmakers and alleged that this amendment had been introduced by the opposition. He also said the privileges approved by the KP Assembly were fewer than those available to lawmakers in the Sindh and Punjab assemblies.

“Around 57,000 blue passports have been issued by the federal government", Mr Jan claimed, adding that the federal government should make public the identities of those holding such passports. He further said lawmakers were entitled to four arms licences and that the additional four had been approved because of the law and order situation in the province. He also said the provincial government would hold a meeting with journalist bodies.

The information minister maintained that press laws in Sindh and Punjab were harsher than those in KP, and said the provincial government accepted criticism positively. He also urged journalists to discuss the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.

PPP lawmaker Ahmad Karim Kundi said the provisions prescribing penalties for media persons accused of spreading misinformation had already been part of the 1988 law. He added that no one had been punished under those provisions since 1988 and said the penalties could be reduced.

Awami National Party leader Arbab Usman said a province that had rendered greater sacrifices should receive more benefits. He criticised some journalists and defended the passport provision.

“Unfortunately, some journalists misused their rights. A blue passport is not a big deal, and if others have it, why not us? What does it have to do with the people?”, he added.

PTI-Parliamentarians’ Arbab Waseem said lawmakers were public representatives and accountable to the people, but added that legislators in other provincial assemblies should also be taken into account because they enjoyed similar facilities. PML-N’s Sobia Shahid said she had been a member of the relevant committee and a signatory to the act, and added that laws from other provinces had been discussed during deliberations, with some clauses incorporated into the KP law.