Peshawar – The process of reviewing laws passed during the tenures of former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and his successor Sohail Afridi has begun in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.A total of 74 laws related to 20 administrative departments are under examination.A special committee constituted in the Law Department will scrutinise the legal provisions, their impacts, and current administrative and legal requirements before finalising its recommendations.
According to official sources, the objective of this review is to analyse the laws and amendments enacted in previous administrations from legal and administrative perspectives.This will help determine which laws should be retained, which require amendments, and which may be recommended for withdrawal or repeal.Final decisions will only be made after the special committee submits its recommendations and receives approval from the competent authorities.
Among the laws under review are the Prosecution Services Amendment Act, Universities Amendment Act, Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Amendment Act, the Act related to the powers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, the law concerning the powers and privileges of Members of the Provincial Assembly, and the Act governing the powers and privileges of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.The possibility of reversing or amending these laws has drawn significant attention in the province’s legal, administrative, educational, and parliamentary circles.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prosecution Services (Constitution, Functions and Powers) Amendment Act 2025 holds particular importance in this process.Available information indicates that possible amendments to this law, or its complete withdrawal, are under consideration.Cases related to the events of 9 May 2023 may also form part of the discussion, as changes in prosecution procedures could affect pending or under investigation cases.However, it cannot yet be concluded that any decision has been taken to terminate specific cases.
The review of the Universities Amendment Act and the Medical Teaching Institutions Amendment Act is also a key component of the exercise.According to official records of the Provincial Assembly, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities (Amendment) Act 2026 was passed on 27 April 2026 and came into force on 6 May 2026, while the Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms (Amendment) Act 2026 was passed on 26 January 2026 and enforced from 6 February 2026.These laws are being examined within the broader context of the ongoing legal review, though no final decision on their repeal or amendment has yet been announced.
Another important aspect of the review concerns laws related to the powers, privileges, salaries, and allowances of the Provincial Assembly, its members, and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.Official records show that separate laws on these subjects were passed in April 2026.The examination of these statutes will help determine whether changes are required in the legal framework governing the relevant powers and privileges.
The special committee is being headed by the Director General of Law and Human Rights.Its members include Special Secretary of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department Shagufta Naveed, Deputy Legislation Officer Masood Ul Hassan, Additional Secretaries or higher ranking representatives from the concerned administrative departments, and the Section Officer General of the Law Department.Representatives of the relevant departments will provide input on the administrative, legal, and practical implications of the laws falling under their purview so that all aspects can be considered while formulating recommendations.
The committee has been directed to complete its review and submit recommendations to the competent authorities within a stipulated period of seven days.During this process, the legal status of the laws, the outcomes of their implementation, their impact on administrative powers, and their compatibility with current legal requirements will be assessed.
This exercise represents a comprehensive review of legislation enacted in previous tenures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Its outcomes could affect provincial administration, educational and medical institutions, and parliamentary affairs.However, until a formal announcement is made regarding the final repeal or withdrawal of any specific Act, all proposed changes should be regarded merely as suggestions under consideration.
