PESHAWAR— Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday strongly defended his stance regarding a controversial new law that expands the perks, immunities, and weapon privileges of provincial lawmakers, declaring that “public money belongs to the people, not to the perks of those who govern them.”
The law, titled the KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026, was passed by the assembly on April 30 and assented to by the governor on May 6. However, following massive public and federal backlash over the lavish benefits, Governor Kundi released a video message on X to clarify that his formal objections to the bill have been officially “on record since May.”
My observations on the KP Privileges Bill have been on record since May 2026, when it was presented to me for assent. Had clearly stated that no law should become a means of expanding privileges when the people of Pakistan, especially the people of KP, were being asked to… pic.twitter.com/4gcJmjRSCK
— Faisal Karim Kundi (@fkkundi) July 10, 2026
Key Controversies in the 2026 Act
- Lifetime Passports: Grants lifetime official passports to all Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) and their spouses.
- Weapon Licences: Entitles each lawmaker to licenses for up to eight non-prohibited-bore weapons.
- Blanket Immunity: Repeals the 1988 law to give MPAs sweeping immunity from preventive detention, removing previous time limits tied to assembly sessions.
- Austerity Clash: The legislation was passed while the provincial government simultaneously cites severe financial constraints and asks citizens to endure immense economic hardship.
Governor Urges Realignment with National Austerity Measures
Governor Kundi made public his official written recommendations, which urge the assembly’s finance committee to reconsider the law and strictly enforce the Prime Minister’s 14-point austerity drive. His feedback demands aggressive expenditure cuts, strict fuel rationing, and the complete elimination of unnecessary VIP privileges.
The governor’s public remarks add significant pressure on KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who just this week bowed to public outcry and ordered a formal executive review of the law’s most controversial provisions.
