ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday expressed the hope that the controversial amendments to the Privilege Bill introduced in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would be repealed at the earliest, saying the legislation runs contrary to the party’s principles and commitment to democratic values.
Reacting to the strong criticism of the proposed amendments from various segments of society, the party said its founding chairman, Imran Khan, had always maintained a clear position on the perks and privileges of elected representatives. “Chairman Imran Khan and the party have always been very clear about the perks and privileges of members. Anything that goes against the philosophy and vision of Khan is never acceptable to the party,” the party said in a statement.
The party maintained that any legislation that curtails freedom of expression or targets journalists and critics has no place in a democratic society and should be withdrawn immediately. “Any law that curtails freedom of expression or targets journalists and critics has no place in a democratic society and must be withdrawn without delay,” the statement added.
Separately, the PTI also criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party over Karachi’s performance in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) 2026 Global Livability Index. Referring to the report, the party said Karachi’s ranking at 170th out of 173 cities—placing it just above war-torn Damascus—was a “damning reflection” of the PPP’s 18 years in power in Sindh.
“Once Pakistan’s economic hub and the City of Lights, Karachi has been reduced to an urban wasteland marked by crumbling infrastructure, water mafias, rampant crime and governance failure,” the party claimed.
The PTI alleged that billions of rupees allocated for Karachi’s development had been lost to corruption, while residents continue to face severe civic problems and deteriorating public services on a daily basis.
