The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has been forced to withdraw amendments made to the Members’ Privileges and Immunities Act after facing intense public and political criticism.

On the directives of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, a special assembly committee agreed to retract the amendments and referred the matter back to the Privileges Committee for preparation of a fresh draft.

Provincial Information Minister Shafi Jan announced the decision after a three-hour meeting of the special committee chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. The meeting was attended by Opposition Leader Dr Ebadullah, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl’s Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Ahmed Kundi, Awami National Party’s Arbab Usman, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians’ Arbab Waseem, and provincial ministers Akbar Ayub, Jan and Aftab Alam.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Jan said the amendments drew sharp objections from the media, voters and PTI workers. A cabinet meeting was subsequently held, where it was decided to withdraw the controversial clauses on the directives of the chief minister.

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“The issue has been referred to the Privileges Committee, which will review the entire Act within 10 days. The revised draft will then be presented to the cabinet for approval and later tabled in the provincial assembly,” he said.

Jan emphasised that the current assembly was a “Form-45 assembly” that respected public opinion. He said opposition and parliamentary leaders were duly heard during the process. Objections were specifically raised regarding clauses concerning blue passports, licenses, and ID cards for family members of lawmakers.

“The 1988 law will be restored,” Jan stated, adding that the draft presented to the cabinet was different from what was later introduced in the assembly. He maintained that the government did not keep the legislation secret.

The minister alleged that the controversy was deliberately raised to suppress the “Ishaq Dar case”. “PTI will continue to pursue the Ishaq Dar case and will soon bring forward the facts. Evidence in the case is being destroyed,” he claimed.

Jan questioned why the media was not highlighting the case involving Dar’s relative, referring to the alleged abduction and rape of two foreign women. “PTI is working on this case. It is being said that PTI has been asked to remain silent, but we will not stay quiet. Anyone who does not want to speak on this issue should resign from their position,” he asserted.

The minister noted that the Privileges Committee had itself supported the act. Similar laws had been passed by other provincial assemblies, and former lawmakers in other provinces enjoy blue passport facilities, yet the issue had never been raised for them, he claimed.