Achakzai and Fazlur Rehman Criticize Government, Speaker During National Assembly Session
ISLAMABAD: Opposition leaders Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman strongly criticized the government, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the role of state institutions during a heated session of the National Assembly.
Addressing the house, Mahmood Khan Achakzai questioned Speaker Ayaz Sadiq over his past remarks regarding the military leadership.
“You once claimed that the Army Chief’s legs were shaking and that he had asked for the release of a spy out of fear of an Indian attack. Since when has your love for the military become so strong?” Achakzai said while addressing the Speaker.
Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rehman also launched a sharp criticism of the government and the Speaker. Referring to Ayaz Sadiq’s remarks from the previous day, he said the Speaker had spoken more than necessary and that his emotional comments were not in keeping with the neutrality expected from his office.
The JUI-F chief recalled past political rallies involving former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and questioned the government’s current stance on criticism of state institutions.
“When Nawaz Sharif stood with us on containers during political rallies, did he not mention the Army Chief and the ISI? Was it not Nawaz Sharif who referred to the military as the ‘Department of Agriculture’?” Fazlur Rehman asked.
He further stated that while the government may be gaining recognition internationally, it has lost credibility within Pakistan. He argued that the military should remain focused on protecting the country’s borders rather than being involved in internal affairs.
Commenting on the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Fazlur Rehman welcomed the decision of the Public Action Committee to postpone its planned march toward Muzaffarabad. However, he questioned the government’s policies, saying Pakistan had long spoken out against human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir and should uphold the same principles in its own territories.
امیر جےیوآئی مولانا فضل الرحمان قومی اسمبلی میں خطاب جاری۔۔۔۔۔
پی ٹی وی پارلیمنٹ پر نشریات بند
نیشنل اسمبلی کی سرکاری لائیو بھی بند
جبکہ قومی اسمبلی میں سکرینوں اور اسپیکر پر بھی آواز بند
۔۔۔۔۔
اجلاس میں وزیراعظم بھی شریک https://t.co/ooemBpJwp1 pic.twitter.com/A3SZKDgb1i
— Fahim Akhtar Malik (@writetofahim) June 24, 2026
The JUI-F leader also criticized Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, saying certain remarks made by him in parliament were not appropriate for someone holding the office of defence minister. He further remarked that the government’s policy appeared contradictory, alleging that one minister had been assigned the task of confrontation while another was handling reconciliation efforts.
According to reports, while Maulana Fazlur Rehman was delivering his speech, the live transmission on PTV Parliament and the National Assembly’s official live stream was abruptly suspended. Audio of his speech was also reportedly cut off on screens and speakers inside the assembly hall, prompting strong protests from opposition members.
The developments led to a tense atmosphere in the house, with opposition lawmakers raising concerns over the interruption of parliamentary coverage and freedom of expression during the session.
