Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) boycotted the National Assembly session and instead held its own “Public Assembly” outside Parliament, where party leaders announced support for the September 8 shutter-down strike in Balochistan, called by Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Akhtar Mengal.
During the session, PTI’s Public Assembly also endorsed a recent speech by Justice Athar Minallah and passed a resolution demanding an extension in the deadline for Afghan repatriation. The resolution, presented by Barrister Gohar, rejected what it called a “hybrid system” as unconstitutional and urged that petitions against the 26th constitutional amendment be heard by a full court. It further stated that press freedom must be restored as the media is the “fourth pillar of democracy,” and that Afghan citizens should not be forced out on humanitarian grounds. The resolution was unanimously approved by PTI’s parallel assembly.
Barrister Gohar also urged all PTI parliamentarians to immediately head out to assist flood-affected communities. Earlier, PTI lawmakers walked out of the official National Assembly session under Barrister Gohar’s leadership, chanting slogans in favor of Imran Khan, before convening their own session outside Parliament. The proceedings began with Asad Qaiser giving Sajid Mehmood the floor, announcing that eight speakers would address the assembly.
In their speeches, PTI leaders raised a variety of grievances. Atif Khan criticized the Assembly for failing to legislate for public welfare and accused the government of writing off corruption worth Rs1,200 billion. He alleged that the judiciary was under pressure, the media was silenced, and that PTI’s founder had been denied even basic household necessities or communication with his sons.
Asad Qaiser strongly condemned recent bombings in Balochistan and reiterated PTI’s support for Justice Athar Minallah’s stance. Aamir Dogar called the so-called hybrid system “a form of one-man rule” that denies justice, demanding the release of PTI’s founder, Bushra Bibi, and other detained members, while also urging immediate relief for flood victims.
Ali Muhammad Khan emphasized that a party with 180 seats had been sidelined while a party with just 17 seats remained in Parliament. He said PTI’s founder had defended Pakistan even from behind bars, and argued that wars are not fought by armies alone but by entire nations. He added that political leaders should be allowed to engage in politics freely.
