Shehbaz Declares September 16th Black Day of Pakistan’s Parliamentary Democracy
PMLN President and National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif says the PTI and Speaker National Assembly trampled upon all parliamentary norms and values to bulldoze through the government’s legislation that grants government unabated power to violate constitutional rights of Pakistanis especially their political opponents in the name of FATF.
Talking to media alongside PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other opposition party leaders, Shehbaz said it is a black day in the history of parliamentary democracy in Pakistan. He said the speaker didn’t even allow debate and discussion over the first draft of the legislation and even backed out of his promise of allowing even the opposition leader of the joint house 2 minutes to speak.
Shehbaz said the speakers had crossed a red line and the opposition has been forced to deliberate on what course of action to take over such unacceptable conduct which forced the opposition to boycott the joint session.
Shehbaz said the opposition understands the crucial nature of this legislation more than the government and had come up with the most ethical and comprehensive ammendments in true spirit of nationalism and patriotism, not for any personal benefit. He slammed the accusation that the opposition is asking for NRO as a bargain to help pass FATF related legislation. He said leaders from PPP and PMLN have already braved imprisonment over fake cases, and are still in NAB custody, why would they want an NRO now.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said what happened in the joint session was autocratic and dictatorial. He said PPP and the opposition cannot let such dangerous precedents be set for parliamentary democracy in Pakistan which is why serious and strong action will be taken against it in the APC. He urged the people of Pakistan to support the APC and answer its call because that is their last hope against total dictatorship of the PTI regime.
Bilawal said the opposition leaders are already facing supra constitutional and illegal abductions and imprisonment under government’s political victimisation they are the ones least affected by it. It is the businessmen and ordinary citizens that will be worst affected with this legislation which usurp constitutional rights by mandating arrest without warrant, no rights to bail and unquestioned detention.
The PPP Chairman said the Speaker not only violated all rules and norms but also rejected call for recount of votes which shows the treasury benches did not have the numbers. He said opposition suspects the speaker counted government advisors as well, which is why the matter will be deliberated upon in APC and challenge at an appropriate forum.
