Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Wednesday accused the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of promoting the very 'VIP culture' they had once pledged to abolish, calling recently approved privileges for provincial lawmakers a form of 'political bribery.'
Background of the Controversy
The criticism came after renewed public debate over legislation passed by the K-P Assembly on April 30, which expanded lawmakers' salaries, allowances and privileges. The law resurfaced this week on social media, sparking widespread criticism over enhanced benefits, official passport entitlements and expanded legislative privileges.
Speaking to PTV News, Chaudhry said the party that had promised modest governance and an end to elite privileges had instead granted unprecedented benefits to its own lawmakers. He alleged that the legislation provided exemptions from toll taxes, free accommodation at government rest houses, lifetime blue passports for lawmakers and their immediate families, and fee-free firearms licences.
Federal Jurisdiction Concerns
The minister, however, maintained that matters such as official passports and prohibited-bore firearms licences fall under federal jurisdiction and the provincial legislation is not binding on the federal government. This distinction highlights potential legal conflicts between provincial and federal authorities.
Separately, Prime Minister's Coordinator on Information for K-P Ikhtiar Wali Khan also criticised the legislation, saying it contradicted the PTI's promise to eliminate elitism and establish equal justice. Addressing a press conference, he claimed the laws granted lifetime blue passports to lawmakers and their spouses, exemptions from court appearances, protection from arrest, and licences for up to eight Kalashnikov rifles.
Allegations of Undermining Accountability
Wali Khan further alleged that no case could be registered against a provincial lawmaker without the approval of the KP Assembly speaker, describing the provisions as contrary to democratic accountability and the rule of law. He argued that such measures shield lawmakers from legal scrutiny and undermine the principle of equality before the law.
The controversy has reignited debates about the PTI's governance record, with critics pointing out that the party, which rose to power on an anti-corruption and anti-VIP culture platform, is now accused of entrenching the very practices it opposed. The federal government has yet to take formal action, but the issue is expected to feature in upcoming parliamentary discussions.
