Opposition NA leader Achakzai warns of parliament disruptions due to restrictions on Imran meeting
JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday said two provinces – Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan – had become centers of insecurity and terrorism.
“Will we continue to celebrate the victory of Marka-e-Haq while the people die?” » he asked while addressing the National Assembly. Marka-e-Haq refers to the four-day India-Pakistan standoff that began on May 6 after India attacked some sites in Pakistan.
Fazl said he was speaking “in an atmosphere of bloodshed”, lamenting that repeated discussions on national issues were not broadcast to the public.
“We support the Constitution and are being punished for it,” he said, recalling that dozens of funerals took place in Bajaur after a single incident.
He criticized the prolonged security operations, saying they had not yielded results, comparing them to a worsening of the disease despite treatment. He also questioned economic policies, questioning why oil prices were highest in Pakistan despite global trends.
NA opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai followed with a hard-hitting speech, giving the government a one-week ultimatum to ensure medical treatment and meetings for jailed PTI founder Imran Khan.
He alleged that the February 8, 2024 elections were manipulated, saying a party that had won a public mandate had been reduced to a minority.
“Is a parliament born through buying and selling?” he asked, adding that the opposition had tried to rule the House, even though they considered it illegitimate. Achakzai said if restrictions on meetings with Imran Khan continued, the opposition would not allow Parliament to function.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mahmood Khan Achakzai then met in the opposition hall of Parliament to discuss the overall political situation, parliamentary affairs and coordination among opposition parties.
The meeting came as opposition groups signaled their intention to protest soaring inflation and fuel prices.
Earlier, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution commending the armed forces for their response to Indian actions in May last year.
Proposed by the Minister of Justice, the resolution praised the professionalism and preparation demonstrated during the conflict and reaffirmed national unity in defending the country’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the Senate session chaired by Yousaf Raza Gilani witnessed a heated debate on inflation, oil prices and tax policies.
PTI Senator Ali Zafar said rising fuel costs were a result of government policies and excessive taxation, noting that more than Rs 117 per liter was collected as levies on petrol. He argued that despite falling global prices, consumers did not benefit from the aid.
