Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed the Powers, Immunities and Privileges Act, 2026, raising concerns over transparency and granting MPAs privileges like court exemptions, mandatory officer attendance at meetings, and security upgrades. Critics highlight issues such as delayed public access to the law, potential judicial inefficiency, and financial burdens from extended security and travel allowances.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati referred a controversial law expanding lawmakers' privileges to a house committee for review. The law, passed in April 2026, grants blue passports, arms licenses, and immunity to lawmakers but faced public and media criticism, prompting Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to order a review. The government aims to align the law with the 1988 Act.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi distanced himself from a new law expanding provincial assembly members' privileges, emphasizing that public money belongs to the people. The KP Assembly passed the KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026, which includes lifetime passports for members and their spouses, immunity from preventive detention, and weapon licenses. Kundi urged fiscal discipline and alignment with austerity measures amid public economic hardship.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed an Rs2.17 trillion budget for FY27, with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi emphasizing peace and development. The budget includes increased police funding, allocations for health and education, and projects like the Khyber Institute of Child Health. Afridi criticized the federal government for withholding NFC awards and delaying the Swat dam project.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session has been postponed multiple times due to fears of criticism from a dissident group within the ruling PTI over Imran Khan's imprisonment. Dissident lawmakers, unhappy with not being included in the provincial cabinet, demand his release, medical treatment, and expedited court proceedings, threatening a permanent sit-in if their demands are not met.