Punjab Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari, issued a strong rebuke against a new privileges bill passed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, which she claims was enacted in secrecy. The bill, allegedly passed without public knowledge and initially denied by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokespersons, includes provisions for increased firearm licenses, immunity from legal processes, and selective access for journalists, among other privileges.

Bokhari highlighted the discrepancy in claims made by PTI representatives regarding the issuance of blue passports to lawmakers across all provinces, clarifying that in Punjab, such passports are only granted to Members of the Provincial Assembly for official use during their tenure, without extension to family members. She condemned the lavish expenditures these privileges would entail, underlining past abuses of such perks.

The minister expressed particular concern over the bill’s impact on journalists, noting that it proposes allowing only certain journalists access to the assembly, effectively barring others which she said was a “direct attack on press freedom,” a move she stated would have led to significant backlash if proposed in Punjab.

Bokhari urged the Pakistan Muslim League (N) KP chapter to legally challenge the bill, criticising PTI for its contradiction in claiming to oppose elitism while seeking extensive privileges for its members. She pointed out PTI’s long-standing governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, arguing that it has not brought significant improvements in law enforcement, employment, education, healthcare, or counterterrorism efforts.