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World

Naqvi slams KP police law requiring speaker's nod before MPA arrests

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has criticised a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police law provision requiring the provincial assembly speaker's permission before a lawmaker can be arrested, calling it an 'extraordinary version' of equality before the law.

By James Calloway · · 2 min read

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi speaking at a press conference
Photo: The Nation

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over a police law provision requiring the provincial assembly speaker’s permission before a lawmaker accused of a criminal offence can be arrested.

In a post on X on Saturday, Naqvi questioned whether police would have to wait for the speaker’s approval even if a lawmaker were accused of killing someone. “What next? If an MPA kills someone, will the police first wait for the Speaker’s permission to arrest him?” he asked, calling it an “extraordinary version of ‘equality before law’”. According to SAMAA TV, he also wrote “Excellent… keep it up!” and asked whether this was the “State of Medina”.

His criticism came after the KP Assembly Secretariat wrote to the province’s inspector general of police laying out the procedure for arresting or detaining lawmakers. Under the letter, the speaker’s permission is required before a member of the provincial assembly can be arrested in a criminal case or detained under an executive order. The magistrate or relevant authority must state its reasons and submit a request to the speaker, who can also seek a police report or challan and order an inquiry before a challan is submitted to court. The secretariat directed the IGP to ensure police follow the prescribed procedure.

The row follows the KP cabinet’s approval on Wednesday of the revised police law, after changes were made to address members’ concerns. On Thursday, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry warned the legislation could affect the police command structure, discipline, morale and its role in combating terrorism, and said the proposed law would be challenged in the Supreme Court. He also objected to changes in the powers of the IGP and the proposed transfer of authority over appointments and postings of senior police officers to the provincial government.

The federal government has argued that provincial legislation must remain within the constitutional and legal framework governing the Police Service of Pakistan, while the KP government has moved ahead with the revised legislation, which proposes changes to police command, administrative arrangements and accountability mechanisms.

Sources

More on this topic: all World stories

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