Ahsan accuses PTI government of rendering Parliament 'redundant'

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday accused the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of making the Parliament 'completely redundant.'

Talking to journalists outside the Parliament House, he said his party lawmakers staged a walkout in protest against non-implementation of National Assembly Speaker's order regarding production orders for jailed opposition leaders.

"The directives of the National Assembly speaker have no importance as if he's a tiny section officer of a ministry," he regretted.

He claimed that the ruling PTI has intentionally implicated the PML-N and other opposition party lawmakers in fabricated cases to keep them away from Parliament proceedings.

He said that the PML-N has faced the concocted cases against the party leaders, and the government would not succeed in pressuring the party through these tactics.

"It's the right of member of the Parliament to represent his constituency but the government has intentionally been forcing them [lawmakers] out of assembly session," he lamented.

Iqbal said that despite four MNAs' production orders were issued, Punjab provincial government regretted that it could not implement his orders.

"If the speaker's order is not implemented, who is calling the shots? If this is the situation what is the use of the Constitution," he added.

The economy is going down the drain and the inflation is skyrocketing, but the Prime Minister said: "Well done, boys [economic team]." He said, "We want to know on what grounds the PM is appreciating his economic team."

He said that the court asked the government to bring any evidence of corruption or misuse of authority against Shehbaz Sharif, but it failed hence NAB withdrew its application against him.

"You could not provide any evidence before the court against Shehbaz Sharif and other jailed PML-N leaders because you have nothing. We want to face the PTI in the court in an open trial, but the government opts for a TV trial," he added.

"Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, why have you been shying away from foreign funding case for the last so many years? We presented everything in the court and ECP, but you're still not ready for an open inquiry," he questioned.

He said that the PTI has nothing except abusing the opposition leadership instead of facing the reality which could only be possible if the PTI stops trolling of its rivals.

The PML-N leaders said that governance of the country is not a "picnic to be celebrated at the mountains of Nathigali', adding, "Pakistan is an important country and to govern, we need a unifying and not a polarizing leadership."

"We asked Imran Niazi to sit on the table when he was abusing us at D-Chowk, and we still ask him to sit on the table in the best interest of the country, but he's quite fond of solo flight which is not good for the country," he regretted.

He said that due to flawed policies of the government and "irresponsible" ministers, the US questioned multibillion dollars China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

He continued that within a very short span of time, the PTI took more loans than what the PML-N government borrowed during its five years tenure, which the party itself accepted in NA on Wednesday last.

He said that he wants to lodge protest against closure of the projects launched by PML-N government as well as failure to fulfill the promises made with Akhtar Mengal.

"We will boycott the proceedings of the house unless the NA speaker's orders are implemented and all jailed leaders are allowed to attend the session," he declared.

He said that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has become redundant due to unilateral decisions of the PTI, as the Prime Minister did not opt for initiating the process in consultation with the opposition leader in National Assembly.