Fazl questions victory celebrations amid unrest

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday said two provinces—Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan—had turned into hubs of insecurity and terrorism.

"Will be keep celebrating Marka-e-Haq victory while the people die?" he asked while addressing the National Assembly. Marka-e-Haq refers to the four-day India-Pakistan confrontation that stared on May 6 after Indian attack on some sites inside Pakistan.

Fazl said he was speaking "in an atmosphere of blood," lamenting that repeated discussions on national issues were not being broadcast to the public.

"We stand with the Constitution and are being punished for it," he said, recalling that dozens of funerals had been held in Bajaur after a single incident.

He criticised prolonged security operations, saying they had failed to deliver results, likening them to a worsening disease despite treatment. He also questioned economic policies, asking why petroleum prices were highest in Pakistan despite global trends.

NA Leader of Opposition Mahmood Khan Achakzai followed with a hard-hitting speech, giving the government a one-week ultimatum to ensure medical treatment and meetings for jailed PTI founder Imran Khan.

He alleged that the February 8, 2024 elections had been manipulated, claiming that a party which secured public mandate had been reduced to a minority.

"Does any parliament come into existence through buying and selling?" he asked adding that the opposition had tried to run the house despite considering it illegitimate. Achakzai said if restrictions on meetings with Imran Khan continued, the opposition would not allow parliament to function.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mahmood Khan Achakzai later met in the opposition lobby of Parliament House to discuss the overall political situation, parliamentary affairs, and coordination among opposition parties.

The meeting came as opposition groups signal plans for protests against soaring inflation and fuel prices.

Earlier, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution paying tribute to the armed forces for their response to Indian actions in May last year.

Moved by the law minister, the resolution praised the professionalism and preparedness demonstrated during the conflict and reaffirmed national unity in defending the country's sovereignty.

In a parallel development, the Senate session chaired by Yousaf Raza Gilani witnessed a heated debate on inflation, petroleum prices, and taxation policies.

PTI Senator Ali Zafar said rising fuel costs were the result of government policies and excessive taxation, noting that more than Rs117 per litre was being collected in levies on petrol. He argued that despite declining global prices, relief was not being passed on to consumers.