PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced that it is withdrawing amendments made to the Assembly Members’ Privileges Act, including proposed new benefits such as the provision of blue passports for members of the provincial assembly and their families.
According to the proposed amendments introduced in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, changes were made to the law regarding salaries and benefits, including a request to grant blue passports to assembly members and their family members. However, the amendments faced strong criticism on social media, after which Chief Minister Sohail Afridi directed that the changes be withdrawn.
In a video message issued alongside other members of the provincial cabinet, Information Minister Shafi Jan said that a meeting of the provincial cabinet was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. He added that Speaker of the Provincial Assembly Babar Saleem Swati also attended the meeting via video link.
Shafi Jan said that, on the instructions of the Chief Minister and after consultation with the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, it had been decided to withdraw all objectionable clauses of the Assembly Members’ Privileges Act.
He further said that all objectionable provisions would be restored and corrected in accordance with the 1988 Act. He also announced that a meeting would be held on Monday in which all parliamentary leaders would be taken into confidence.
The Information Minister said that the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which he described as a “Form 45 government,” was established on the basis of the people’s genuine mandate. Therefore, he said, the government would not make any decision that goes against public aspirations. Shafi Jan also said that the government would listen to all concerns raised by the journalist community and the public.
