ISLAMABAD: Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai announced his resignation from all National Assembly committees involving treasury members, urging the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to do the same.
Addressing the media at Parliament House, Achakzai declared that he would no longer participate in committees alongside government representatives. "I withdraw from all committees that include treasury members," he stated, advising PTI lawmakers to also distance themselves from these panels.
He proposed that PTI should convene an alternative parliamentary session outside the National Assembly, with former speaker Asad Qaiser presiding. “With over 100 opposition members, PTI should show the public that they are the genuine representatives,” he added.
Reiterating his previous stance, Achakzai labeled the current parliament as “illegitimate,” claiming that PTI's mandate was stolen in last year’s general elections. He also criticized the unusual involvement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in judicial matters, calling it unprecedented.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed disappointment over the performance of the National Assembly. He condemned the government for denying the PTI members the right to speak on the floor, despite their attempts to engage constructively.
"We sought political solutions through both the production and negotiation committees, but today, we were denied even a point of order. We strongly protest this behavior," Gohar stated.
Adding to the opposition’s criticism, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza accused the government of suppressing parliamentary debate. “We came fully prepared to discuss key issues, but the treasury benches refused us the opportunity,” he remarked, warning that if the government seeks confrontation, the opposition is ready to respond.
