Naqvi Slams PTI Over KP Law on MPA Arrests

News Desk
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has strongly criticized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s legislative push mandating prior assembly speaker approval for any MPA’s arrest, terming it a flawed version of equality before the law.
The interior minister took exception to the provincial measures amid escalating political tensions between the federal administration and the PTI-led regional government.
Naqvi highlighted a recent directive issued by the KP Assembly Secretariat to the provincial Inspector General of Police, reminding law enforcement of legal provisions requiring the speaker’s permission before detaining lawmakers on criminal charges.
This administrative friction follows the provincial cabinet’s approval of the proposed KP Police Act 2026, which critics argue attempts to clip police independence and subject top law enforcement decisions directly to executive oversight.
The ongoing legislative maneuvering underscores a deepening rift over institutional authority and police independence in the province.
Legal experts and federal critics contend that extending special legal privileges and immunity hurdles to lawmakers accused of criminal offenses undermines public accountability, weakens the criminal justice system, and sets a contentious precedent for inter-provincial governance standards.
Political observers anticipate further legal and political showdowns as the proposed legislation heads toward the provincial assembly for formal debate and voting. Federal ministries are expected to closely monitor the assembly proceedings, while opposition lawmakers in KP prepare to challenge the constitutional validity of provisions aiming to restrict police powers and executive accountability.