Lead

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Friday decided to withdraw controversial clauses from the recently enacted KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026, after widespread backlash, as reported by Dawn. The decision came after KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi ordered a review of the legislation following criticism from the media and the general public.

Coverage comparison

Dawn reported that the provincial government, on the directives of Chief Minister Afridi, decided to withdraw all controversial provisions incorporated into the act. Information Minister Shafi Jan announced the decision in a video message shared on X, stating that cabinet members met with the chief minister earlier in the day, and that KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati also joined the meeting via video link. The minister said all controversial clauses would be restored and corrected in accordance with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Powers, Privileges and Immunities) Act, 1988, which the new law had repealed.

According to Dawn, the KP Assembly passed the act on April 30, and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi assented to it on May 6. The law expanded provincial assembly members' powers and immunities, including the issuance of lifetime official passports to members and their spouses, arms licenses for up to eight non-prohibited-bore weapons, blanket immunity from preventive detention, and the requirement of the speaker's permission before arresting members on criminal charges. The law also exempts MPAs from attending court proceedings during assembly or committee sittings and prescribes punishments for breach of privilege, including imprisonment and fines.

Key claims

  • The KP government decided to withdraw all controversial clauses from the KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026, after widespread backlash, as reported by Dawn.
  • The act, passed on April 30 and assented to on May 6, granted blue passports to members and their spouses, arms licenses, blanket immunity from preventive detention, and required the speaker's permission for arrests of members on criminal charges.
  • Chief Minister Sohail Afridi ordered a review of the legislation after media outcry and public criticism, according to Dawn.
  • Lawmakers from both treasury and opposition benches defended the law, saying it was similar to an earlier law passed in 1988, as reported by Dawn.
  • Governor Faisal Karim Kundi called on National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani to convene a meeting to agree on a single, harmonised bill governing salaries, privileges, and entitlements of legislators across Pakistan.

Perspectives

Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The provincial government, led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, announced the withdrawal of controversial clauses from the act, stating that the KP Assembly, formed on the basis of the people's genuine mandate, would not make any decision contrary to public aspirations. The government said it would address the concerns of the journalist community and the general public.

Lawmakers in the KP Assembly

Lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches defended the law, arguing that it was similar to an earlier law passed in 1988. Chief Minister Afridi also noted that the KP government had not taken illegal action against anyone and that legal action was taken only in cases of false propaganda.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi

Governor Kundi urged the National Assembly speaker and Senate chairman to convene a meeting of speakers of all four provincial assemblies to agree on a single, harmonised bill governing legislators' privileges. He emphasised that no province should legislate extraordinary privileges for itself while expecting the people to embrace austerity, and that a harmonised national framework was the only way to ensure fairness, accountability, and public confidence.