PM Coordinator Demands Reversal of KP Law Expanding Lawmakers' Privileges

Ikhtiar Wali Khan, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Affairs, has called for the reversal of recently enacted laws that significantly expand the privileges and immunities of provincial assembly members (MPAs) in the region. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed three acts on April 30 concerning immunities, privileges, and financial benefits for MPAs, the speaker, and the deputy speaker. Although the governor assented to these laws on May 6, they have not yet been officially published.

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No law of this country applies to them. They can fire at anyone or hit anyone, but they are not answerable to anyone.

Khan expressed strong criticism, stating that the new laws effectively place lawmakers above the law. Under the legislation, MPAs gain blanket immunity from preventive detention, and authorities must now obtain prior permission from the speaker before arresting a member on criminal charges. Khan argued that this provision, combined with broad interpretations of freedom of expression, could allow MPAs to act with impunity, as the speaker would likely not grant permission for arrest.

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Under the umbrella of freedom of expression, [an MPA] can do anything and the speaker will be the custodian and he will be the only person to give permission to arrest a member of the assembly.

Further amendments include granting MPAs licenses for eight non-prohibited bore weapons, an increase from the previous entitlement of four free lifetime licenses. Khan questioned the necessity of such extensive weapon access for lawmakers. The laws also provide lifetime official passports for members and their spouses, which Khan suggested could be used to seek political asylum abroad and damage Pakistan's international reputation.

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If someone has the licence to own eight Kalashnikovs, what will he do?

Additionally, the laws introduce provisions that could restrict press freedom by allowing the speaker and provincial government to bar specific journalists and publications from covering assembly sessions. While the KP Assembly Speaker's office denied introducing extraordinary privileges, stating that most provisions existed in prior laws, critics like Khan contend that the recent amendments create an unacceptable situation where lawmakers are shielded from accountability.

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Blue passport for life means that these people will leave on their passport and surrender it, and then get political asylum. […] They want to insult Pakistan globally.