A heated exchange erupted between National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Tuesday. The disagreement unfolded during the National Assembly budget session. Consequently, opposition lawmakers staged a walkout from the House.
Responding to Achakzai’s speech, the Speaker said he would not allow remarks against Pakistan. He also ruled out speeches targeting the armed forces or judiciary. Furthermore, Sadiq said he would continue enforcing those restrictions.
Speaker Defends Parliamentary Conduct
Ayaz Sadiq said Parliament represents the people of Pakistan and must uphold national interests. He warned lawmakers against making remarks that could fuel division. Additionally, he questioned accusations that he had violated the Constitution.
The Speaker said criticism of national institutions would not be permitted inside the House. He also stressed that parliamentary committees remain the proper forum for detailed legislative discussions. Moreover, he criticized members who skip committee meetings before questioning parliamentary procedures.
Sadiq also noted that several lawmakers exceeded their allotted speaking time during the budget debate. However, he expressed disappointment over continued complaints regarding speaking opportunities.
Opposition Walks Out Over Dispute
The opposition walkout followed Achakzai’s speech criticizing the government on several issues. However, his address was not livestreamed on National Assembly platforms or television channels. This came despite the recent removal of restrictions on broadcasting opposition speeches.
Later, Achakzai posted on X that portions of his speech had been censored. He claimed lawmakers had a constitutional duty to protect democratic institutions. Therefore, he accused the government of supporting actions that weakened the Constitution and judiciary.
