PTI Lawmakers Challenge Government Over Election Legitimacy in National Assembly
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member of the National Assembly Junaid Akbar strongly questioned the legitimacy of the current parliamentary setup during a speech in the National Assembly, declaring that if he had entered parliament through fraudulent votes, then “may a curse be upon me and my children.”
Addressing the House, Junaid Akbar argued that lawmakers who were genuinely elected by the public should be given adequate speaking time in proportion to their electoral representation. He said that members who won elections should have the opportunity to voice their opinions according to the number of seats secured by their party.
The PTI lawmaker stated that he had been elected as an MNA in 2013, 2018, and 2024, adding that if he had obtained his seat through fake votes or by depriving someone of their rightful mandate, he would accept the consequences. He then challenged members of the government benches to repeat the same statement.
Meanwhile, senior PTI leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser also criticized the government, directing questions toward Defence Minister Khawaja Asif regarding the credibility of the February 8 general elections and the Gilgit-Baltistan elections.
Speaking on the floor of the House, Qaiser said that if Khawaja Asif truly felt a burden on his conscience, he should explain whether he had any concerns about the conduct of the elections. He alleged that the February 8 polls were manipulated and claimed that PTI’s electoral mandate had been undermined through disqualifications and administrative interference.
Qaiser further alleged that PTI lawmakers had been removed from the assembly and replaced by others, while institutions including the Election Commission and courts were influenced to produce desired outcomes. He also referred to the treatment of PTI-backed candidate Rehana Dar, claiming that she had been mistreated by police authorities.
The PTI leader challenged the government to resign and hold fresh elections, arguing that a new vote would reveal the true level of public support enjoyed by the ruling parties.
The remarks intensified the ongoing political debate over the transparency and credibility of recent elections, with PTI continuing to contest the results and demand what it describes as the restoration of its electoral mandate.
