The women lawmakers belonging to the PTI, who had resigned from the National Assembly en masse earlier in April, have staged a protest outside the Parliament House in Islamabad.
MNAs Aliya Hamza, Kanwal Shauzab and Maleeka Bokhari were leading the protest.
The protest demonstration was held against the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which removes the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and disallows overseas Pakistanis from voting in the next general election and amendments to the NAB law.
After being denied entry, the protesters scaled the parliament gate to enter the premises and chanted slogans against the coalition government led by the PML-N.
Meanwhile, PTI senators have also boycotted the joint sitting of parliament.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s female MNAs protested outside the Parliament House. Prominent PTI parliamentarian Aliya Hamza also climbed the gates while other members chanted anti-government slogans and waved kitchenware.#etribune #news #PTI #MNA #Parliament pic.twitter.com/KSHK83Akvs
— The Express Tribune (@etribune) June 9, 2022
President Arif Alvi, who belongs to the PTI, returned the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 And Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2022 last week, observing that Article 46 of the Constitution had been violated as he was not informed about bringing these legislations to parliament.
On May 27, the Senate had passed the two significant bills, a day after they were cleared by the lower house of parliament.
However, getting a nod from the presidency, needed for the implementation of the legislation, remained an obstacle for the government.
The president had summoned the session in exercise of his powers vested under Article 54 (1) of the Constitution, a notification issued by the presidency said.
The joint sitting will deliberate on the prevailing economic situation in the country and the global economic and security environment.
The government has asked all its allied parties to ensure their presence in the session.
Prime Minister Shehbaz will also attend the session. The premier is also expected to address the House.
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