On the directive of CM Sohail Afridi, the assembly withdrew the amendments and sent them for reformulation
KP Assembly in session. PHOTOAFP
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government was forced to withdraw amendments to the Privileges and Immunities of Members of Parliament Act after facing intense public and political criticism.
On the directives of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, a special committee of the assembly agreed to withdraw the amendments and referred the matter to the Privileges Committee for preparation of a new draft.
Provincial Information Minister Shafi Jan announced the decision after a three-hour meeting of the special committee headed 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 parliamentarians and provincial ministers Akbar Ayub, Jan and Aftab Alam.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Jan said the amendments had attracted strong objections from the media, voters and PTI workers. A cabinet meeting was then held, during which it was decided to withdraw the controversial clauses on the chief 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 subsequently tabled in the provincial assembly,” he said.
Jan emphasized that the current assembly was a “45-type assembly” that respected public opinion. He said leaders of the opposition and Parliament were duly heard during the process. Objections were specifically raised regarding clauses regarding blue passports, licenses and identity cards for family members of lawmakers.
“The 1988 law will be reinstated,” Jan said, adding that the draft presented to the cabinet was different from the one later presented to the assembly. He argued that the government had not kept the bill secret.
The minister claimed that the controversy was deliberately raised to hush up the ‘Ishaq Dar case’. “PTI will continue to pursue the Ishaq Dar case and will present the facts soon. The evidence in this case is being destroyed,” he asserted.
Jan asked why the media was not focusing on the case involving Dar’s relative, referring to the alleged kidnapping and rape of two foreign women. “The PTI is working on this matter. It is said that the PTI has been asked to remain silent, but we will not remain silent. Anyone who does not want to speak on this issue should resign from their post,” he asserted.
The minister stressed that the Privileges Committee itself had supported the law. Similar laws have been passed by other provincial assemblies, and former legislators from other provinces are enjoying blue passport facilities, but the issue has never been raised for them, he claimed.
