Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, located in Peshawar, the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The assembly was established under Article 106 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which mandates the creation of a provincial assembly for each of the provinces of Pakistan, including Punjab, Pakistan, Sindh, Balochistan, Pakistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The assembly is composed of elected members, who represent the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the legislative branch of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is headed by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, currently Mahmood Khan (politician). The assembly is responsible for making laws for the province, as outlined in the Constitution of Pakistan, and works in conjunction with the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate of Pakistan.

● History

The history of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly dates back to the British Raj, when the North-West Frontier Province was established in 1901. The first assembly was formed in 1932, with Sir Abdul Qadir (politician) as its first Speaker of the Assembly. The assembly has undergone several changes since then, including the One Unit scheme, which merged the provinces of Punjab, Pakistan, Sindh, Balochistan, Pakistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into a single province, West Pakistan, under the leadership of Muhammad Ayub Khan. The assembly was restored in 1972, after the Bangladesh Liberation War, and has since been a key institution in the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, working with notable leaders such as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, and Nawaz Sharif. The assembly has also played a crucial role in the development of the province, with initiatives such as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority and the Peshawar Development Authority, which have been supported by organizations like the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

● Composition

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is composed of 145 members, who are elected by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through a general election, which is overseen by the Election Commission of Pakistan. The assembly includes members from various political parties, such as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the Pakistan Muslim League (N), and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), as well as independent members. The assembly also includes reserved seats for women and minorities, as mandated by the Constitution of Pakistan, which ensures representation for groups such as the Hindu community and the Sikh community. The assembly works in conjunction with other institutions, such as the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the High Court of Peshawar, to ensure the rule of law and the protection of human rights, as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

● Powers and Functions

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has the power to make laws for the province, as outlined in the Constitution of Pakistan, and works in conjunction with the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate of Pakistan. The assembly also has the power to approve the budget of the province, which is presented by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and to hold the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accountable for its actions, through mechanisms such as the Public Accounts Committee and the Standing Committee on Finance. The assembly also plays a crucial role in the development of the province, with initiatives such as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization and the Peshawar Electric Supply Company, which have been supported by organizations like the United States Agency for International Development and the European Union. The assembly works with notable institutions, such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Development Programme, to address key issues such as healthcare and poverty reduction.

● Current Membership

The current membership of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly includes members from various political parties, such as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the Pakistan Muslim League (N), and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), as well as independent members. The assembly is led by the Speaker of the Assembly, currently Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani, and the Deputy Speaker, currently Meher Taj Roghani. The assembly also includes notable members, such as Imran Khan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and Shehbaz Sharif, the President of the Pakistan Muslim League (N). The assembly works with other institutions, such as the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate of Pakistan, to address key issues such as terrorism and corruption, through initiatives such as the National Action Plan and the National Accountability Bureau.

● Elections

Elections to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly are held every five years, as mandated by the Constitution of Pakistan. The elections are overseen by the Election Commission of Pakistan, which ensures that the elections are free and fair, as outlined in the Electoral Laws of Pakistan. The assembly has undergone several elections since its establishment, including the 2013 Pakistani general election and the 2018 Pakistani general election, which saw the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf emerge as the largest party in the assembly. The assembly works with other institutions, such as the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the High Court of Peshawar, to ensure the rule of law and the protection of human rights, as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

● Procedure

The procedure of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is outlined in the Constitution of Pakistan and the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The assembly meets regularly to discuss key issues and to make laws for the province, as outlined in the Legislative List and the Concurrent List. The assembly also has various committees, such as the Public Accounts Committee and the Standing Committee on Finance, which oversee the functioning of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and ensure that it is accountable to the people, through mechanisms such as the Right to Information Act and the Freedom of Information Ordinance. The assembly works with other institutions, such as the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate of Pakistan, to address key issues such as economic development and social welfare, through initiatives such as the Pakistan Poverty Reduction Strategy and the National Health Policy. Category:Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa