Key Takeaways
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government enacts new law expanding privileges for provincial assembly members.
- MPAs and their spouses will receive official passports, VIP lounge access, and security provisions.
- Legislation increases weapon licences from four to eight, including free and paid options.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has passed a new law that significantly enhances the privileges of members of the provincial assembly (MPAs), their spouses, and other officials. The KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026 was approved by the provincial assembly on April 30 and received assent from Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on May 6.
Under the new legislation, MPAs and their spouses will be entitled to official passports, subject to federal laws. This provision is part of a broader package that includes VIP lounge access at airports across Pakistan for members, with assembly identity cards issued to spouses recognized by law enforcement agencies.
The law also provides blanket immunity from preventive detention for MPAs, replacing the previous law which limited such protection to specific periods before and after assembly sessions or committee meetings. Authorities will now need prior permission from the speaker of the assembly to arrest an MPA on a criminal charge or detain them under an executive order.
Security provisions are another key aspect of the new legislation. MPAs will be entitled to Category B security during their tenure, with the option to upgrade to Category A if a credible threat is identified. Security personnel provided by authorities can retain this protection throughout Pakistan, including in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The law also increases the number of weapon licences available to MPAs from four to eight, including four free licences and four issued on payment of the prescribed fee. Other new privileges include club memberships on terms equivalent to government officers and the use of personally owned vehicles with tinted windows.
Penalties for offences under the Act have been increased, including fines and imprisonment. The legislation aims to provide a comprehensive set of rights and protections for MPAs and their spouses, enhancing their status within the provincial assembly and beyond.
While the new law has been passed and assented to, it has not yet been uploaded to the KP Assembly’s official website. This development is part of an ongoing effort by the government to modernize and expand the rights and privileges of provincial assembly members.
