Haseeb Khan, Qaseem Shah:Â
ISLAMABAD: Tempers flared in the National Assembly on Tuesday after a heated exchange between Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Speaker Ayaz Sadiq over constitutional issues, parliamentary conduct, provincial rights, and the role of democratic institutions.
Speaking during the Assembly session, Achakzai launched a wide-ranging critique of the federal government and the speaker’s handling of parliamentary affairs. He said the opposition would adopt a tougher stance now that the government had completed two and a half years in office, arguing that Parliament must function in accordance with the Constitution and democratic principles.
The opposition leader questioned the speaker’s decisions regarding the disqualification of lawmakers, claiming constitutional norms had not been upheld. He also criticised the government’s handling of several politically sensitive issues, including the reported life sentence awarded to Baloch Yakjehti Committee leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch and the official response to recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Turning to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was present in the House, Achakzai referred to the premier’s earlier remarks on Pakistan’s unity. While agreeing that the country’s future was paramount, he argued that Pakistan’s strength lay equally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab, urging the federal government to ensure that every province enjoyed equal constitutional rights and representation.
He further accused the government of weakening democratic institutions and called for meaningful dialogue with the people of Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on issues relating to governance, constitutional rights, and the ownership of natural resources.
Responding on the Assembly floor, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq firmly rejected the allegations and defended his conduct as custodian of the House. He said he would not allow any speech that, in his view, targeted Pakistan, its armed forces, or the judiciary, stressing that safeguarding national institutions remained his constitutional responsibility.
The speaker also challenged the opposition’s criticism of Parliament, saying that members who questioned the legitimacy of the House continued to use its platform extensively, often speaking beyond their allocated time. He further claimed that opposition parties had repeatedly declined opportunities to participate in parliamentary committees despite being invited on multiple occasions.
Later, the National Assembly Secretariat issued a statement quoting Speaker Sadiq as saying that freedom of expression must always be exercised within the limits of the Constitution, parliamentary rules, and democratic traditions. He added that protecting the dignity of Parliament was among his foremost responsibilities and urged all elected representatives to place national interest, sovereignty, and stability above political differences.
The tense exchange ended with opposition lawmakers, led by Achakzai, staging a walkout from the National Assembly before the speaker concluded his remarks. Members of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), however, remained in the House as proceedings continued.
