Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati has strongly responded to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s criticism regarding the province’s recently introduced police legislation. The law requires police to obtain prior permission from the provincial assembly speaker before arresting any lawmaker accused of a criminal offense.
Swati emphasized that parliamentary privileges exist to shield legislators from political pressure, but do not place them above the law. He pointed out that if Naqvi had been an elected representative familiar with parliamentary procedures, he would understand that such privileges are longstanding and not a novel concept.
Naqvi had questioned the rationale behind the law, sarcastically asking if police would now have to seek the speaker’s approval even if a member of the provincial assembly (MPA) committed murder. He described the provision as an “extraordinary version of ‘equality before law.'”
In defense, Swati clarified that the requirement for police to get the speaker’s consent before arresting a legislator is not new in KP. He explained that these safeguards are intended to protect the legislature’s independence and prevent elected officials from being targeted through police actions for political reasons.
He assured that no assembly member is immune from investigation or judicial proceedings. The speaker’s role is solely to ensure that arrests are not used as tools for political vendettas or to disrupt assembly functions. Swati questioned the legitimacy of laws passed hastily or without consensus, especially if parliamentarians have faced abduction, bribery, or inducements to switch loyalties.
Swati urged the interior minister to reconsider his comparisons, highlighting that the law was enacted with agreement from both government and opposition members in the KP Assembly. He also criticized raids conducted by masked individuals on politicians’ homes without warrants, questioning whether such actions align with democratic principles.
Notably, Swati reminded that the privileges under scrutiny are also enjoyed by Naqvi and his colleagues. He criticized the interior minister for acting as if his statements carry the force of law, which is not the case.
Highlighting his recent international recognition for legislative work, Swati noted that representatives from 56 countries, 186 assemblies, and approximately 80,000 parliamentarians attended the conference where he was honored. He alleged that Naqvi had undermined Pakistan’s representation by withholding his passport and preventing several lawmakers from participating in the event.
Finally, Swati accused the interior minister of attempting to extend his government’s tenure by violating human rights principles, signaling a broader political struggle behind the dispute over parliamentary privileges.
Leave an opinion