No Demand Except Supremacy of the Constitution and Transparent Elections — What Kind of Legislation Is Done in Half an Hour? Mahmood Khan Achakzai

Islamabad (Daily Qudrat Quetta): Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and head of the Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, addressed the National Assembly session on October 19, which was censored. Mahmood Khan Achakzai said, “We have no desire to harass people or create disorder. You people should also fear God. Here there is talk of conduct, for which we have the book of Rules of Procedure — whoever follows it, their conduct is correct, and whoever does not follow it, their conduct is not correct. You are the Custodian of the House. I apologize, I am not a lawyer, but even if your member commits murder or is involved in the worst crime, he is a member of Parliament — obtaining his production order and defending him is your duty. I repeatedly use worn-out words. 600 years ago, an English ruler wanted five members of Parliament; he entered Parliament and the Speaker stood up and respected him. He said, ‘I want such-and-such five men.’ The Speaker’s words were: ‘Your Majesty, in this Parliament, I see and hear what my members hear.’ The Speaker refused and said that those present here are my respected members and no one can lay hands on them. I don’t know how you are running this Parliament. Mr. Speaker, for God’s sake, as the Custodian of this Parliament, respect your members. What laws have you made, what will you do? Since yesterday, millions of people have come out against inflation in France; the Eiffel Tower, France’s history and one of the world’s greatest wonders, was set on fire. The people of Berlin have also announced that they will support the people of France. You are sitting here singing who knows what lullabies. History will record this. The laws here say that whatever a member says here will be recorded and not a single word of it will be cut, and no person can be arrested or will be arrested for what is said in the Assembly. When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made the Constitution at that time, 15 days later he gave Parliament freedom — he could do anything. Then we are forced to use harsh words; we feel pain too. But what can we do — you don’t let us speak. If you want to make laws, make them, then you too will find out.”

Mahmood Khan Achakzai said, “Supremacy of the Constitution, Parliament as the source of power, and genuine democratic transparent elections — this is our demand. We want neither schemes nor anything else from you. Today 30 members are sitting here — let them speak. What is your hurry? What kind of legislation is this that is done in half an hour? There is a proper way of making laws too. Let our colleagues speak so they can express their views.”