Opposition stages protests against ‘Operation Azm-e-Istehkam’ in NA

ISLAMABAD: Opposition members in the National Assembly disputed Defense Minister Khawaja Asif’s speech, demanding an end to the military operation in former FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas).

The federal government on Saturday announced the ‘Operation Azm-e-Istehkam‘, vowing to eliminate terrorism and extremism. The announcement came after PM Shehbaz chaired a meeting of the Central Apex Committee of National Action Plan on Saturday.

During today’s National Assembly session, members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and JUI-F (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl) protested against giving the microphone to Khawaja Asif and chanted slogans like “FATA operation namanzoor,” “fauji operation namanzoor,” and “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa operation namanzoor.”

Then, the opposition members staged a walkout from the assembly but were later brought back by government members after some time.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament House in Islamabad today, PTI MNA Barrister Gohar Khan demanded to take this Parliament into confidence if the military is planning to launch any intelligence-based or full-fledged operation against terrorism.

However, he alleged, that lawmakers from his party were denied the chance to speak and therefore staged a walkout in protest.

He asserted that no matter how empowered a committee was, it could not supersede Parliament and that there were “rules” according to which the apex committee should approve the plans for ‘Operation Azm-i-Istehkam’.

Earlier, during the budget debate, PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) leader Mahesh Malani criticized the budget, calling it a “difficult budget dictated by the IMF.” He added that their chairman had reluctantly accepted the budget.

JUI-F member Shahida Akhtar criticized the budget, stating that it contained “nothing but empty words” and was crafted at the behest of the IMF. She questioned the excessive privileges granted to IPPs (Independent Power Producers) and demanded an audit of these companies.

MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) member Amin ul Haq pointed out that the budget was consumed by interest payments on loans, highlighting the country’s precarious financial situation. He urged the government to impose an agricultural tax on those profiting from wheat sales, citing the examples of Afghanistan and India.