KP amends controversial law on lawmakers’ privileges
• Provisions for lifetime blue passport scrapped; number of lifetime arms licences for MPAs reduced to four • Assembly resolves to resist ‘proposed takeover’ of Hazara areas by federal government PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly on Friday withdrew controversial provisions from the recently enacted KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026 , including the…
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly recently rescinded contentious provisions from the newly passed Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026, eliminating provisions for lawmakers to receive lifetime blue passports and arms licenses. The legislation, introduced in April, also granted lawmakers blanket immunity from preventive detention and required speaker's permission for arrest on criminal charges.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi ordered a review of the law, leading to the withdrawal of the controversial clauses. The amended bill, approved by the KP Assembly on Friday, maintains that official passports will now remain valid solely for lawmakers' parliamentary tenure. Additionally, the number of lifetime non-prohibited bore arms licenses was reduced from eight to four.
Concerns raised by journalists regarding increased fines and punishments were also addressed, with both fines and punishments being decreased. The House unanimously passed a resolution expressing strong disapproval of any attempt by the federal government to alter KP's territorial jurisdiction by annexing certain regions. Treasury lawmaker Akbar Ayub asserted that Haripur, Abbottabad, and other districts are integral parts of KP and cannot be annexed to any other part of the country.
The resolution emphasized that any changes to the province's boundaries for personal or political interests would be unconstitutional and detrimental to the federation.
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