Bilawal urges opposition to resume participation in committees, implores Achakzai to use ‘authority’ granted by Imran

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday urged Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai to use the “authority” granted by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan to ensure that opposition lawmakers resume participation in key parliamentary committees, particularly for electoral reforms.

Lawmakers from the PTI had last year in August quit the chairmanship of several National Assembly standing committees, implementing the directives of the PTI leadership. There is currently a near breakdown in communication and contact between the government and the opposition following the failure of earlier negotiations that led to the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in PTI-dominated Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Read: PTI lawmakers quit standing committees

Speaking in the National Assembly, Bilawal said that “if the opposition party leaders are truly serious about wanting to see this Parliament activated and all of us playing our roles together in it, then I appeal to them to please utilise the powers that Khan Sahib has granted to the opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, and direct their members to start attending the meetings of the most important committees.”

Read More: Opposition leaders criticise govt over stalled talks, restrictions on parliamentarians

The PPP chairman stated that the absence of opposition representatives from House committees and briefings would undermine efforts to build consensus among stakeholders on electoral reforms, counterterrorism, defence and economic matters.

While discussing the Electoral Reforms Committee, Bilawal noted that the National Assembly had passed a resolution on the matter at its preceding meeting before the decision was announced for the opposition to withdraw from the committees.

He said that if Parliament had decided to form an Electoral Reforms Committee, Achakzai should exercise his authority as leader of the opposition to nominate members and submit their names to the speaker’s office.

Also Read: Bipartisan NA panel to mull electoral reforms

“If we make an effort to establish the Electoral Reforms Committee and you are not there, what is the point? If we persuade all stakeholders to come together on terrorism, defence agreements and economic issues, but your representatives are absent, what is the purpose of sitting here, delivering speeches and holding sessions?” he asked.

Bilawal stressed that participation in parliamentary committees would help address the opposition’s fundamental concern of election rigging.

He added: “If the opposition wants alleged electoral rigging to be addressed in the upcoming general elections and local government elections, the process could begin with the leader of the opposition deciding that PTI members will join the Electoral Reforms Committee.”

Bilawal remarked that this could be the starting point for “restoring the strength and respect that Parliament deserved”.

Referring to the war in Iran, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, and Pakistan’s recent defence agreements, Bilawal said it was essential that “relevant officials, including the finance minister, foreign minister, defence minister and interior minister, provide a comprehensive briefing to the Parliament”.

He added: “The House should be informed about the changing situation in the region, the Iran conflict, and the potential impacts on the global economy and Pakistan’s economy from the problems facing key maritime trade routes.”

He also stressed that parliamentarians had a right to be informed about possible threats facing the country, including domestic terrorism, the government’s response and future security challenges, further adding that lawmakers should be briefed on the steps being taken to help “collectively” address these issues.

On October 23, the opposition said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should personally invite the opposition to talks if the government was serious about negotiations, adding that it could not trust those who mocked the dialogue process.

On October 22, Achakzai and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had criticised the government over stalled political negotiations and restrictions on parliamentarians, calling for meaningful dialogue and the protection of elected representatives’ rights.

On August 20, Bilawal had urged the opposition to rejoin parliamentary standing committees, while also seeking opposition coordination over the appointment of the chief election commissioner and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan, as well as electoral reforms.