Following a forceful speech by Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan against the rapid passage of key bills that would increase the number of judges in the higher judiciary and extend the fixed tenure of all three services chiefs, the National Assembly session was adjourned indefinitely.
His comments came a day after parliament approved several bills, including “The Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” “The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” and “Pakistan Army Amendment Bill, 2024,” with a majority vote amid significant protests from the opposition.
In his address, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ayub condemned the passage of six bills as a “shameful incident,” labeling the coalition government as a “government of thieves,” which led to chaos in the House.
The livestream of the NA’s YouTube channel cut out following Ayub’s remarks but resumed when independent lawmaker Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, who backed the 26th Amendment despite defying party lines, began his speech.
Addressing the lower house, Khichi stated, “Standing under these pure names of Allah, may Allah destroy me if I have taken even a single penny [as a bribe].”
He further asserted that his party leadership had betrayed them and clarified that he had not accepted any bribes.
Khichi claimed that a forward bloc was on the horizon in PTI on that day, which he thwarted, and that time would reveal the truth.
While he was speaking on a point of order, PTI lawmakers began chanting slogans, prompting the NA deputy speaker to read the prorogation order signed by President Asif Ali Zardari.
