Opposition to counter ‘fascist govt’: Shahbaz

LAHORE:

Opposition parties would challenge what it denounces as the ruling party’s “fascism” and “disregard for the constitution” inside and outside the parliament, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) parliamentary advisory board decided on Friday.

The meeting held in the opposition’s chamber of Parliament House was presided over by the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, and was attended by the senior party leaders.

The decision comes two days after the parliament's joint session passed the ruling party's 33 bills including the controversial Elections (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021, which allows the use of EVMs in the next general elections.

The legislation has been strongly condemned by the opposition, which claims the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led government's push for the electoral reforms reeks of "conspiracy" to manipulate the next general elections in its own favour.

The participants mulled over bulldozing the government's legislation on key issues, including electronic voting machines and giving overseas Pakistanis the right to vote.

The meeting also discussed the issue of bulldozing the government's legislation in a joint sitting of the parliament and was briefed about challenging the joint session legislations in the court.

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They observed that it was the first time in the history of Pakistan that electoral reforms were being made without consensus.

Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz said the government's legislation was unlawful and violated the constitutional provisions. "We reject the royal decree of Imran Niazi," he quipped, adding, "this government has been humiliated in front of the people and it is now attacking the constitution."

“The government, which has been bombing the people with inflation, has carried out a suicide attack on the parliament,” he said.

The PML-N leader accused the government of attacking the constitution as a "last resort". “Now that the government has fallen from grace, it has resorted to attacking the constitution itself.”

He went on to say that the government that bombarded masses with inflation has now waged a suicide attack on parliament. "Those who are supporting the tyrant, anti-people and anti-law government are guilty before the masses."

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Shehbaz further noted that a recent statement issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was against the legislation and was a testament against EVMs.

"LPG, flour, sugar, medicines, electricity and gas are all out of masses’ reach. A government that can't provide a kilo of flour and sugar to people or make the gas cylinder affordable is rubbing salt on the wounds of the poor by talking about providing new homes."

The PML-N president said he admired the unity and passion of the opposition. "The struggle will bear fruit and it will result in the supremacy of Constitution and relief to the masses."