ISLAMABAD: The recent raid by plainclothesmen inside the National Assembly to arrest PTI members prompted a rare show of unity among government and opposition lawmakers on Thursday. The joint condemnation led to a resolution that calls for changes to parliamentary rules and demands accountability for those responsible for the raid.
In a bipartisan resolution approved by the upper house, lawmakers expressed outrage over what they described as an attack on the “prestige” of Parliament. The resolution, introduced by PTI leader Syed Shibli Faraz, condemned the “arbitrary abduction” of ten elected representatives from the Parliament premises and proposed amendments to safeguard legislative privileges.
Faraz criticized the raid as an “outrageous crime” and urged that those responsible be penalized to restore parliamentary sovereignty. PTI’s Barrister Ali Zafar labeled the day of the arrests as “the darkest and most reprehensible” in Pakistan’s political history. He echoed a call from PTI founder Imran Khan for public demonstrations to uphold constitutional rights and the rule of law. Zafar also reaffirmed PTI’s commitment to hold a rally in Lahore regardless of official permissions.
PML-N parliamentary leader Irfanul Haq Siddiqui also denounced the raid, calling for an investigation into the arrests and reflecting on his own past detention during the PTI government. Siddiqui criticized the lack of condemnation from the current ruling party at the time of his arrest.
PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman urged lawmakers to agree on fundamental principles to prevent such incidents and took aim at the PTI for its ongoing opposition to legislative changes. Rehman also criticized remarks made by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur during a recent PTI rally.
In response to the broader political climate, ANP Chief Aimal Wali Khan expressed concern over the ongoing conflict between the judiciary, the establishment, and the government, and highlighted the dangerous situation arising from police protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He called for a special parliamentary session to address the unrest in KP and Balochistan and demanded accountability for those involved in the arrests.
JUI-F Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman condemned the arrests while noting similar disrespect towards parliamentarians during the PTI government. He warned that the ongoing police protests could escalate and stressed the need for unity among institutions to avert a worsening crisis.
