KP Governor Distances Himself from New Law Expanding Assembly Members' Privileges

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has publicly distanced himself from a newly enacted provincial law that expands the powers and immunities of assembly members, saying his observations on the legislation were "on record" and that "public money belongs to the people."

The KP Assembly passed the KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026, on April 30. Governor Kundi assented to the law, along with two other related acts, on May 6. However, following public backlash, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi this week ordered a review of the new law's provisions.

In a statement posted on X on Friday, the governor said his observations had been "on record since May" and that he had made it clear that "no law should become a means of expanding privileges when the people of Pakistan, especially the people of KP, were being asked to endure austerity and economic hardship."

He added that he had urged the law be implemented "in the true spirit of fiscal discipline and prudent use of public resources," noting that "a government that speaks of financial constraints cannot, in the same breath, legislate greater privileges for those in power."

"My position was clear then, and it remains unchanged today: public money belongs to the people, not to the perks of those who govern them," Kundi said.

In a copy of his observations published with the post, he recommended that the provincial assembly's finance committee implement the spirit of the prime minister's 14-point austerity measures, including expenditure cuts, fuel rationing and the elimination of unnecessary privileges. He also suggested the committee reconsider the law to operationalise those principles "in true letter and spirit."

The privileges law expands provincial assembly members' powers and immunities. According to the legislation, members and their spouses are entitled to lifetime official passports, subject to applicable federal law. Members also receive blanket immunity from preventive detention and are entitled to licences for up to eight non-prohibited-bore weapons.

The law further provides for Category-B security for members during their tenure, which may be upgraded to Category-A in the event of a credible threat, based on a threat assessment report and the nature and severity of the threat, as determined by the competent police authority. A member provided with security personnel is entitled to retain such security throughout Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Additionally, members' spouses are entitled to assembly identity cards, which are to be "duly recognised and accorded due respect by all law enforcement agencies," and members may use VIP lounges at all airports in the country.

The new act repeals the 1988 law on the same subject. While most provisions of the repealed law have been retained, certain changes expand the privileges of assembly members. For instance, Section 8(1) allows a member to summon a meeting within their constituency or concerned district at a public place of their choosing, and Section 8(2) makes it binding on government officers to attend. Section 8(3) deems any officer who fails to attend without sufficient cause to have committed a breach of privilege. Section 10 grants members blanket immunity from preventive detention.

Governor Kundi's public remarks come amid growing scrutiny of the legislation, with critics questioning the expansion of privileges during a period of economic hardship. The chief minister's decision to order a review suggests the provincial government is responding to the backlash, though it remains unclear what changes, if any, may be made to the law.