Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Repeals Lifetime Blue Passports, Cuts Arms Licences for Lawmakers; Assembly Resists Federal Takeover of Hazara Territory.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday amended the KP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026, scrapping lifetime blue passports and reducing the number of lifetime arms licences for members to four. The original act, passed in April, had granted lawmakers and their spouses lifetime passports, arms licences, blanket immunity from preventive detention and required the speaker’s permission before arresting members on criminal charges. It drew sharp criticism from media and the public. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi ordered a review last week. Information Minister Shafi Jan announced the repeal of the controversial clauses and the restoration of the legal framework in line with the 1988 Act. Treasury lawmaker Ghazi Ikram tabled the amendment, which was passed with Speaker Baber Saleem Swati presiding. Official passports will now be valid only for the duration of a member’s parliamentary tenure. Both fines and punishments associated with the act were reduced. A separate unanimous resolution, moved by treasury lawmaker Akbar Ayub, warned against any federal attempt to annex parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, specifically the Hazara region. The resolution declared Haripur, Abbottabad and other districts integral to KP and condemned any plan that could change provincial boundaries or control natural resources. It called on all political parties, the legal fraternity, civil society, youth and the media to safeguard the province’s geographical sovereignty and constitutional rights.