On Tuesday, the National Assembly witnessed a fiery exchange between government and opposition lawmakers following the arrest of PTI MNAs from various locations in Islamabad, including the Parliament House.
The arrests occurred on Monday night, a day after PTI’s Sangjani rally. Law enforcement agencies detained at least three prominent PTI members from different parts of the capital, while others sought refuge in the Parliament House.
During a passionate speech in the assembly, PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan condemned the arrests, equating the event to a significant blow to democracy. He criticized the actions of law enforcement and expressed frustration over the treatment of his party leaders, including those detained from the mosque and Parliament House. Khan called the arrests an “attack on democracy and Pakistan’s constitution.”
In response, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif fiercely criticized PTI, questioning the party’s rhetoric and accusing them of challenging Pakistan’s integrity and constitutional values. He denounced the PTI’s protests as undemocratic and hypocritical, referring to past incidents and PTI’s alleged attempts to undermine democratic institutions.
PML-N leader Rana Tanveer took a more conciliatory approach, urging for unity among political factions to strengthen democracy and address national issues. He recalled various contentious incidents during the PTI’s tenure and emphasized the need for cooperation to overcome current challenges.
MQM-Pakistan leader Syed Mustafa Kamal also spoke out, condemning Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s divisive rhetoric and calling for respect for parliamentary institutions. Kamal highlighted the need for political unity to address the country’s crises.
