Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi voiced strong opposition on Saturday to a new provision introduced by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which mandates police to obtain the provincial assembly speaker’s consent prior to arresting any member of the provincial assembly (MPA) accused of a criminal offense. Naqvi questioned the practicality and implications of such a rule, rhetorically asking whether police would have to wait for the Speaker’s permission even if an MPA were charged with a serious crime such as murder.
He described this requirement as an unusual interpretation of the principle of equality before the law, implying that it undermines standard legal procedures. This criticism followed the KP Assembly Secretariat’s issuance of a formal letter to the inspector general of police (IGP), which outlined the new protocol for detaining or arresting lawmakers. the letter, no MPA can be arrested or held under an executive order without prior approval from the KP speaker.
The letter further detailed that any magistrate or relevant authority proposing such action must justify the reasons and submit a formal request to the speaker. The speaker is empowered to demand a police report or challan in the public interest and may order an inquiry before any challan is filed in court. The KP Assembly Secretariat instructed the IGP to ensure strict adherence to these procedures by the police force.
Naqvi’s remarks come in the wake of the KP cabinet’s approval of the amended police law on Wednesday, which incorporated revisions aimed at addressing concerns raised by assembly members. Earlier, on Thursday, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry expressed apprehensions that the new legislation could disrupt the police command hierarchy, negatively impact discipline and morale, and weaken the police’s effectiveness in counterterrorism efforts. He also indicated that the law would be challenged in the Supreme Court.
Chaudhry specifically objected to the reduction in the IGP’s powers and the proposed shift of authority over senior police officers’ appointments and postings to the provincial government. The federal government maintains that any provincial legislation must comply with the constitutional and legal framework governing the Police Service of Pakistan. Despite these objections, the KP government has proceeded with the revised law, which introduces significant changes to police command structures, administrative arrangements, and accountability mechanisms.
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