National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has voiced concerns about the backlash regarding the arrests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers from Parliament, suggesting he may need to reassess his position.
During the National Assembly session on Tuesday, Akram, who was among the ten leaders detained and later presented under production orders, expressed gratitude to supportive parties and acknowledged the speaker’s role in issuing these orders.
Akram, with a “heavy heart,” reflected on the distress caused by recent protests that resulted in the filing of first information reports (FIRs) against them. He criticized what he perceives as a growing trend in the country where opposition members face legal hurdles. “Regardless of the number of FIRs—whether it’s 500 or more—our struggle will continue until our founding chairman is released,” he asserted.
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The PTI leader expressed his distress over the “security measures” taken in Parliament, stating that the doors had been locked and members were restricted from accessing the opposition chambers and lobbies. He noted that while the MNAs had returned to Parliament, they felt proud to be parliamentarians despite such challenges.
Sadiq detailed the complications they faced, mentioning that the Capital Development Authority staff was unavailable and that Rangers and police had surrounded Parliament. He recounted an incident where, at 3pm, his personal guards informed him that masked individuals had arrived in a jeep. “We haven’t stolen anyone’s buffalo; we’re not thieves,” he said and instructed his guards not to intervene.
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During a chaotic period, Akram alleged that members were scattered across different floors, and the electricity was cut off. He recounted an incident where, as his colleague Zain Qureshi began coughing, he quipped, “Whether they catch him or not, you will make him apprehended,” which elicited laughter from the assembly.
Akram criticized the security situation in Parliament, alleging that some individuals, supposedly affiliated with the speaker, attempted to forcibly enter rooms during the arrests. He described the presence of masked individuals and noted that the lights were again turned off amidst the confusion.
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He detailed his own experience of trying to locate his colleagues, only to be informed that they had been detained. According to Akram, the detainees were transported in an SUV registered to Sher Afzal Marwat. Upon their arrival, they encountered federal police, leading to a confrontation between the police and the masked individuals, each claiming authority over the detained members. Eventually, the police were able to escort the detainees away.
Akram asserted that these events represented “not just an attack on him but on Parliament itself.” He highlighted that staff members had been suspended without accountability and called for an investigation into the individuals who had infiltrated Parliament. “We are not concerned with the paperwork; we understand the pressure you are under. It is crucial to identify who these people were that breached your premises,” he addressed the Speaker and other officials.
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