The National Assembly session was adjourned indefinitely following a forceful speech by Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan, who criticized the rapid passage of critical bills that increased the number of judges in the superior judiciary and extended the fixed tenure for all three service chiefs.
Ayub’s comments came shortly after parliament approved multiple bills, such as “The Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” “The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” and the “Pakistan Army Amendment Bill, 2024,” with a majority vote despite vigorous opposition protests.
During his address, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ayub condemned the approval of six bills, labeling it a “disgraceful event” and accusing the coalition government of corruption, sparking loud objections in the House.
The National Assembly’s YouTube livestream temporarily went blank after Ayub’s remarks. It resumed when Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, an independent PTI-affiliated lawmaker who had supported the 26th Amendment contrary to party directives, began his speech.
In his address, Khichi stated, “Under the sacred names of Allah, I declare that may Allah destroy me if I took even a single bribe.” He added that it was true their party leadership had “sold them out.”
He clarified to the Assembly that he had not accepted any bribe, as reported by APP, and claimed to have prevented a potential forward bloc within PTI.
Khichi’s speech, delivered on a point of order, led to PTI lawmakers chanting slogans, prompting the deputy speaker to read the prorogation order, signed by President Asif Ali Zardari.
