The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will hold its session today at the Peshawar Cricket Stadium amid criticism by the opposition.

The Awami National Party (ANP) has announced that it would boycott the session at the stadium, terming the government’s move a drama.

The sitting, scheduled for the afternoon, will be chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.

The session’s agenda has been issued, which includes question hour as well as the approval of resolutions.

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has directed all PTI members of the assembly to attend the session.

Reacting to the development, ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that the KP government is “staging a new drama every day,” adding that the party will not be part of this “dramatisation.”

He questioned the rationale behind holding an assembly session in a stadium, saying that if the purpose was to live telecast the proceedings on TV, live transmission of assembly sessions had already taken place in the past.

Meanwhile, strict security arrangements have been put in place for the assembly meeting at the cricket stadium.

According to CCPO Peshawar Dr Mian Saeed, more than 500 police personnel will be deployed for security duties.

He stated that he will personally monitor security arrangements at the stadium, while the Inspector General (IG) of Police will also visit the site to ensure safety measures are properly implemented.

The unusual venue choice has drawn political criticism and heightened security preparations as the provincial assembly convenes outside its traditional premises.