On Wednesday, National Assembly opposition leader and PTI leader Omar Ayub led a walkout, demanding the release of imprisoned party leaders, including founder Imran Khan, and an end to alleged threats against party members.
As the session started, Deputy Speaker Syed Mir Ghulam Mustafa Shah began proceedings, but PTI member Iqbal Afridi quickly raised a quorum issue, pausing the session for 15 minutes.
Post-session, Omar Ayub strongly objected to the government’s actions, stating, “We will abstain from this session until Imran Khan and PTI workers are freed and threats to force our members to resign cease.”
He also charged the government with coercing PTI’s Punjab members to resign under duress. The walkout gained support from various political parties, except for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F). Ayub and his allies have called for the immediate release of PTI members and vowed not to return until their demands are met.
During the session, Ayub highlighted the conspicuous absence of key ministers, questioning the presence of only one minister of state and one federal minister. “Where are the other ministers? They should be here to respond to our queries,” he remarked.
Omar Ayub Faces Camera Black Out During His Speech In National Assembly#umarayub #nationalassembly #nationalassemblysession #ptileader #BreakingNews #CapitalTV #CapitalNews #CapitalLive pic.twitter.com/Yxg3FGbsHo
— Capital TV (@CapitalTVLive) December 16, 2024Tensions have escalated in the National Assembly over political demands, with opposition parties advocating for the release of their leaders and more political freedom for members.
Meanwhile, PTI founder Imran Khan has temporarily paused his civil disobedience movement call, his sister revealed on Tuesday. During a press briefing after visiting Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan shared that her brother considered directing overseas Pakistanis to stop remittances unless his demands for a judicial inquiry into the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, and the release of party workers were met. “Overseas Pakistanis are ready to stop remittances, but PTI members advised waiting to avoid harming the country,” she noted, indicating that Imran was attuned to their concerns and willing to delay decisive action for a few more days.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's message to the Pakistani nation from Adiala Jail – December 17th, 2024:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has always operated within the constitution and the law, but the mafia that has imposed itself on our country continually violates the law…
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 18, 2024Imran puts civil disobedience call on hold
Government officials have dismissed the possibility of negotiations in the face of PTI’s threat of civil disobedience. In the National Assembly, various ministers urged PTI to foster a conducive environment for dialogue and retract the disobedience call. “Negotiations cannot proceed under duress,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated, dismissing PTI’s negotiation committee as ineffective without genuine intent.
PTI’s Sher Afzal Marwat stressed the necessity of dialogue and unity to navigate the country through its crises, emphasizing that effective negotiations require clear terms of reference. He also expressed concerns about security issues in his constituency and urged the government to act against lawbreakers.
Responding to Marwat, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Political Adviser, Rana Sanaullah, reaffirmed the government’s readiness to engage in discussions, advising PTI to initiate formal dialogue through the Speaker’s Office. “The Speaker’s office is a neutral venue for all parties, and the PTI’s dialogue committee should convey a serious intention to engage,” he added.
Khawaja Asif also addressed Marwat’s concerns, indicating that formal negotiations had not yet begun and highlighting the necessity for PTI to demonstrate a serious commitment to initiating dialogue.
During the session, PTI lawmakers reiterated their willingness to engage in discussions but refused to “beg” for dialogue. They also denounced the government’s recent crackdown on PTI protesters in Islamabad.
Earlier on Tuesday, former National Assembly Speaker and PTI leader Asad Qaiser reported being pressured to resign, alleging that the current Speaker was informed to accept his resignation upon submission. He criticized the harassment of Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and warned that forced resignations would impede the assembly’s functioning. He also lamented the inaction of a special committee to address these issues.
