Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has ordered a review of controversial amendments to the K-P Assembly Members’ Powers, Privileges and Benefits Act, 2026, following widespread public and media criticism and directed that all contentious provisions be reconsidered in consultation with parliamentary leaders.

Addressing a meeting of the provincial cabinet on Wednesday, CM Afridi said the draft of the Parliamentarians Privileges Bill, which had been approved by the cabinet, was later amended after being sent to the provincial assembly. He noted that the amendments had come under sustained criticism in the media over the past two to three days.

The chief minister said he had met K-P Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati and directed him to convene a meeting of all parliamentary leaders represented in the provincial assembly.

“The meeting should thoroughly review all provisions that have drawn objections from the people of the K-P and the journalist community and make necessary revisions,” he said.

Afridi expressed hope that the amendments introduced to the bill would be reconsidered and that all future steps would be taken in accordance with public interest and public opinion.

Meanwhile, amid growing public debate over the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Members’ Powers, Privileges and Benefits Act, 2026, both treasury and opposition lawmakers defended the legislation, arguing that several misconceptions were being spread regarding the law.

Addressing a joint press conference in the provincial assembly alongside senior opposition lawmakers, Provincial Minister for Information and Public Relations Shafi Jan said unnecessary confusion had been created over the legislation approved by the assembly.

He said claims circulating on social media and in sections of the media about the law had “no basis” and that many of the issues being discussed were not even part of the act.

According to the minister, the legislation was not an entirely new law but merely amendments to the existing 1988 act. He maintained that the provincial cabinet had not approved any new provision that did not already exist in the 1988 legislation.

Jan clarified that the draft approved by the cabinet did not contain any provision granting lifetime blue passports to members of the provincial assembly or passports for their family members.

He said those amendments were introduced in the assembly after the bill was tabled, adding that the opposition had proposed the changes.

PPP parliamentary leader Ahmad Karim Kundi defended the legislation, saying lawmaking was the constitutional prerogative of the provincial assembly.

He revealed that a proposal to grant the assembly speaker a red passport had also been discussed, arguing that since a governor could possess a red passport and a speaker could eventually become governor, the speaker should also be entitled to the facility.

ANP parliamentary leader Arbab Usman said the province was facing multiple challenges and crises and that elected representatives should be provided with better facilities to perform their duties effectively.

PML-N MPA Sobia Shahid said all provincial laws relating to lawmakers’ privileges had been examined before drafting the act.