The combined opposition on Tuesday rejected the government’s planned legislative agenda for the joint sitting of parliament.
The development came after the opposition parties attended a dinner at the Parliament House hosted by Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif.
Soon after the assembly session, the opposition parties discussed the prevailing political situation in the country and vowed to stand united against the government.
Some of the opposition leaders were heard saying that the moral victory in the National Assembly was a clear message to the treasury benches that they were fast losing support and their days were numbered.
Both the government and the opposition parties have geared up for the upcoming joint session of parliament. The prime minister will host a reception for the treasury benches on Wednesday (today).
At the dinner, the opposition leadership discussed the strategy to be adopted for the joint sitting where the government aims to pass legislation pertaining to electoral reforms, including holding the next elections via electronic voting machines and giving a the right of vote to overseas Pakistanis.
“This government has made the lives of 220 million people miserable,” Shehbaz said in his speech, adding that the government was trying to dodge legislation through the joint sitting but the united opposition would protest in and out of parliament.
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He maintained that the opposition parties would stand firm against inflation and other governance issues and that they would also block the passage of the NAB ordinance in parliament and challenge the same in courts if needed.
Announcing that rallies would be held across the country against inflation, Shehbaz said the opposition will protest against the government at every forum.
Meanwhile, the opposition leader directed all his party members to ensure attendance in the joint sitting so that the government’s moves could be defeated just like in Tuesday’s session.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the opposition was united under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif and that the PPP would extend full cooperation in the joint sitting of parliament. He assured that the all PPP members would attend the joint session.
Terming unemployment and inflation as the biggest problems of the country, the Bhutto scion noted that people were faced with a historic price hike and poverty after the “PTI-MF deal”. “We have always raised this issue at every forum.”
The combined opposition has once again defeated the government in the National Assembly, he said, adding “this is good omen for the opposition and we will continue to defeat government with united opposition.”
“All the opposition political parties are united under Shehbaz Sharif's leadership in parliament,” Bilawal said.
The PPP chairman observed that only the unity of opposition could defeat the government, and that his party would play an active role with the combined opposition in the joint session of parliament.
Responding to journalists questions after the dinner, Bilawal said that the opposition would achieve more successes in parliament due to unity in its ranks.
Answering a query whether the premier was on his way out, Bilawal replied: “We [opposition parties] are trying the same.”
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