Barbs fly in national assembly with opposition staging protest and walkout

According to details, the session of assembly was rife with shouting and sloganeering with opposition not staging a protest and walkout as well.

"Yes I am Raja Rental," former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said in reply to slogans being raised by the treasury benches. The Pakistan People's Party leader then asked the government members, "What are you? Your Prime Minister cannot even come to the parliament because of your actions. If you do not have shame, i can buy some for you from the market," he said, adding that he was cleared on the RPP issue. He said that the government members are incompetent and do not understand the sanctity of the parliament. "Imran Khan used to say if the cost of electricity goes up, then the Prime Minister is a thief. So i will say this today, our Prime Minister is a thief," he said referring to the Rs. 1.95 increase in electricity price authorized by the federal government in January.

The ruckus started after opposition parties chanted slogans during the speech of Federal Minister for Power, Petroleum and Natural Resources Omar Ayub Khan. He wasn't able to complete his speech due the noise.

Later, opposition interrupted the Member National Assembly (MNAs) of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) as they tried to speak in favour of 26th constitutional amendment bill related to open ballot senate elections.

The bill was introduced by Law Minister Farogh Naseem the assembly on Wednesday, while discussion over it had resumed today (Thursday).

The members of the opposition, who are opposing open ballot Senate elections, gathered around the deputy speaker Qasim Suri’s dice and chanted slogans against government.

 PM won’t give NRO to anyone, reiterates Fawad

Federal Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, while speaking in assembly, reiterated that Prime Minister Imran Khan will not give give National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to any one at any cost.

“These people [opposition] are only concerned about the cases against them. They have no comprehensive planning and strategy. Their leaders, who are also thieves, are sitting in London planning movement against government,” he said.

Opposition can only give deadlines, says Murad

Federal Minister for Communication Murad Saeed has said that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) can only give deadlines for resignations to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“They will never act on their guidelines, as you need courage to do so,” he said.

Qureshi calls opposition two-faced for creating ruckus in assembly

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi lashed out at opposition for not allowing discussion on 26th constitutional amendment bill related to secret balloting.

Calling opposition ‘two-faced’, he said that one-sided debate cannot take place in the house.

Referring to the bill, he said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised to bring transparent reforms.

“This was the reason we had tabled a bill for amendments in Articles 59, 63 and 226 of the Constitution. Now this bill would reveal those candidates who have no vision to support any political party,” he said.

Opposition parties misleading people, Asad Umar

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said that opposition is misleading the people with its vague stance and agenda.

“All these parties who are part of PDM used to hurl accusations at each other,” he added.