PESHAWAR (Kashmir English): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has prepared a draft bill that introduces new restrictions on journalists and expands the powers of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and provincial lawmakers.
According to the proposed legislation, the Speaker would have the authority to stop any journalist from covering Assembly proceedings and ban them from reporting for a specified period.
The draft bill, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026, empowers the Speaker to prohibit the publication or broadcast of any Assembly proceedings.
Under the proposed law, journalists who violate such restrictions could face up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs1 million.
The draft legislation further states that if a journalist or media organization is found to have distorted Assembly proceedings, they could face up to three years in prison and a fine of Rs300,000.
It also proposes penalties for journalists who accuse the Speaker of bias or criticize the Speaker’s conduct, prescribing up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs1 million.
Moreover, the draft bill states that any reporter or journalist would get three months’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs300,000 for publication or broadcast of reports from standing committees before they are officially tabled in the Assembly.
Similarly, publishing or broadcasting an adjournment motion before it is tabled would carry a penalty of up to one month’s imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000 if the proposed legislation is enacted.
Other provisions
Among other notable provisions are lifetime official (blue) passports, up to eight firearm licences, enhanced legal immunity, toll tax exemptions, and expanded official powers for lawmakers, the Speaker, and the Deputy Speaker.
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