The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has announced a groundbreaking decision to conduct its session outside the traditional assembly building for the first time. The upcoming session is scheduled to take place at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium on April 22, marking a significant milestone in the province’s legislative history.
Speaker Babar Saleem Swati confirmed that the session will commence at 3pm under his supervision. This move aims to increase transparency by allowing citizens to witness the proceedings firsthand, thereby fostering greater public involvement in the democratic process. The Speaker emphasized that holding the session in an open-air venue is intended to strengthen the connection between lawmakers and the public.
Looking ahead, Swati suggested that similar sessions could be organized in various districts throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to further enhance direct interaction between elected representatives and their constituents. The assembly’s Secretariat has formalized the arrangement through an official notification, ensuring all procedural aspects are in place.
Both treasury and opposition members have expressed their agreement with the plan. Meanwhile, coordination efforts are underway involving the sports department, police, and district administration to finalize security and logistical arrangements. To oversee preparations, Speaker Swati, Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi, Assembly Secretary Syed Waqar Shah, and several provincial ministers recently inspected the stadium facilities.
In a notable development, Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah welcomed the decision, highlighting that the open venue would provide the opposition a platform to publicly question the government’s performance. While he noted some uncertainty regarding the government’s motives, he affirmed that the opposition intends to make full use of this opportunity to engage with the public directly.
