The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly has drafted a bill that proposes to significantly increase the powers of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and members of the provincial assembly, grant exemptions in several matters, and impose restrictions on journalists, according to reports on Tuesday.
According to the draft bill, the Speaker will have the authority to bar any journalist from covering assembly proceedings. Additionally, they may even ban them from coverage for a specified period.
The Speaker will also have the power to prohibit the publication or broadcast of any assembly proceedings.
Under the proposed law, a journalist who violates such a restriction could face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to Rs1 million.
The draft further states that action may be taken against any journalist or media organisation that reports assembly proceedings in a distorted or misleading manner.
In such cases, a journalist could face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs300,000.
The bill also proposes that a journalist who accuses the Speaker of bias or criticises the Speaker’s character could face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to Rs1 million.
It further states that publishing or broadcasting the report of any standing committee before it is formally tabled in the assembly could result in up to three months in prison and a fine of up to Rs300,000.
Similarly, publishing or broadcasting an adjournment motion before it is tabled could lead to up to one month in prison and a fine of up to Rs100,000.
The bill is currently a draft and would need to go through the legislative process before becoming law.
ANP leader accuses KP Minister Meena Khan of corruption
Recently, the Awami National Party (ANP) accused KP Minister Meena Khan of serious corruption.
ANP Provincial General Secretary Shah Hussain Yousafzai alleged that Meena Khan sold doctor posts for Rs1.5 million each.
He further claimed that the alleged deals took place inside the Chief Minister’s House and called for a transparent investigation and accountability.
