On CM Sohail Afridi’s directive, the assembly withdrew the amendments and sent them for redrafting
KP assembly in session. AFP PHOTO
PESHAWAR:
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.
Following the directives of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, a special committee of the assembly agreed to retract the amendments and returned the matter to the Privileges Committee for preparation of a new draft.
Provincial Information Minister Shafi Khan announced the decision after a three-hour meeting of the special committee chaired by President Babar Saleem Swati. The meeting was attended by opposition leader Dr Ebadullah, Maulana Lutfur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl, Ahmed Kundi of Pakistan People’s Party, Arbab Usman of Awami National Party, Arbab Waseem of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPs and provincial ministers Akbar Ayub, Jan and Aftab Alam.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Jan said the amendments drew strong objections from the media, voters and PTI workers. A cabinet meeting was later held in which it was decided to withdraw the controversial clauses from the Prime Minister’s directives.
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“The matter has been referred to the Privileges Committee, which will review the entire law within 10 days. The revised draft will then be presented to the cabinet for approval and then presented to the provincial assembly,” he said.
Jan emphasized that the current assembly was a “type 45 assembly” that respected public opinion. He said parliamentary and opposition leaders were duly heard during the process. Objections were specifically raised to the clauses regarding blue passports, licenses and identity cards for family members of legislators.
“The 1988 law will be restored,” Jan said, adding that the bill presented to the cabinet was different from the one later presented 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 investigating the Ishaq Dar case and will present the facts soon. The evidence in the case is being destroyed,” he said.
Jan questioned why the media was not highlighting the case involving Dar’s relative, referring to the alleged kidnapping and rape of two foreign women. “The PTI is working on this case. It is said that the PTI has been asked to remain silent, but we will not remain silent. Whoever does not want to speak on this issue should resign from his position,” he asserted.
The minister noted that the Privileges Committee itself had supported the law. Other provincial assemblies had passed similar laws, and former legislators in other provinces enjoy the facility of the blue passport, but the issue had never been raised before them, he said.
