ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly descended into chaos on Monday as opposition lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) launched a fierce attack on the ruling PML-N-PPP coalition, accusing them of steering support for the 27th Amendment Bill, which now stands on the cusp of passage.
For hours, PTI lawmakers disrupted proceedings, demanding accountability and condemning the proposed amendment as a threat to constitutional integrity, warning that it would consolidate power in the hands of the ruling elite, weaken democratic institutions, and render the judiciary redundant.
Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser led the criticism, accusing PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of betraying the 1973 Constitution and undermining the legacy of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a key architect of the constitution. “How can Bilawal and the PPP face the people after blatantly disrespecting the constitution,” he demanded, pointing out the inconsistency between the PPP’s past commitment to democratic principles and its current support for the amendment.
27th Amendment: PTI accuses coalition govt of attempting ‘constitutional coup’
He also targeted the Awami National Party (ANP) and its leader Aimal Wali, accusing him of abandoning his family’s historic opposition to military dictatorships. “We did not expect this from those associated with Bacha Khan. While we respect Aimal Wali’s elders, his support for this controversial bill is appalling,” he added.
Qaiser reserved his harshest criticism for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, condemning his party, PML-N, for backing the amendment, calling it a “humiliating capitulation” to undemocratic forces.
“Had Nawaz Sharif opposed this bill, his stature would have risen. Instead, his party’s support risks rendering the courts redundant,” he said, warning that such a move would deny the common man access to justice.
PTI leaders vowed to take their fight against the bill to the streets, with Qaiser promising that PTI would mobilise public protests. “The people of Pakistan will not stand idly by as the Constitution is trampled,” he declared.
In response, Raja Pervez Ashraf of the PPP accused PTI lawmakers of being compromised, claiming they cared more about Imran Khan’s release than the national interest. He dismissed PTI’s accusations as baseless and their protests as a mere distraction. “If you want to compete with Asif Zardari, then your leader, Imran Khan, should first spend 12 years in jail,” Ashraf retorted.
He also questioned PTI’s commitment to democracy, accusing them of disrespecting the contribution of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the sacrifices of martyrs, and ghazis.
Ashraf also reminded that Benazir Bhutto, the PPP’s slain leader, gave her life for democracy and the constitution, unlike PTI, which he accused of prioritising “thumping desks” and “enjoying in air-conditioned rooms” over addressing the struggles of ordinary Pakistanis and securing Imran Khan’s release, claiming that PTI MNAs do not want Khan to be free from jail.
On the issue of the 27th Amendment Bill, he reaffirmed his party’s stance, saying the PPP would stand by the military and continue its support for the amendment. “We have our stance, and PTI can do whatever it likes,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Aliya Kamran criticised the rushed process of passing the bill, warning that its swift passage without proper public consultation could have serious repercussions.
“The real stakeholders, the people, should be consulted, but this bill is being drafted behind closed doors,” she said, cautioning that it could disgrace the judiciary and concentrate power in the executive, which would be disastrous for the country’s teething democracy.
Defending the bill, Hanif Abbasi, the Federal Minister for Railways, defended the government’s stance, claiming that Pakistan’s international standing had never been higher, thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the military. “Those who oppose the country’s progress will be dealt with an iron hand,” he warned.
He also criticised PTI’s handling of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), accusing the party of facilitating militants and resettling 40,000 in the province when PTI was in power, which he deemed unacceptable. He said that Pakistan would pursue anti-state elements, even across borders, to safeguard national security.
Further, Abbasi condemned KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s inflammatory remarks about the military. “It is appalling to accuse those who take bullets in their chest first of disrespecting mosques,” he added.
Abbasi insisted that Imran Khan would remain in jail unless the courts ordered his release. “If the courts do not release him (Imran Khan), no amount of protests will help. And just as we offered Fateha for a senior colleague, I fear we may soon be offering Fateha much earlier than expected,” he remarked.
PTI lawmakers interpreted his comments as a direct threat to their jailed leader and strongly objected, prompting Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah to expunge Abbasi’s remarks from the official record.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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