Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai warned on Wednesday that governor’s rule would be imposed next in Sindh over the “occupation of water, mines and streams”, urging the Centre to give provinces their rights and resources.
He was speaking in the National Assembly, where a resolution endorsing the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday was passed. The federal government cited the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism as the reason for imposing governor’s rule in KP.
In days preceding the development, political tensions between the federal government and the opposition, mainly the PTI, had remained high after the party announced a long march to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. However, the march, initially planned for Islamabad, remained confined to KP until it fizzled out with the imposition of governor’s rule in the province.
In his address, Achakzai said KP’s “mistake is that it saved itself with the help of its people”. He also drew a comparison between the current situation with regards to KP and the one witnessed at the time of the creation of Bangladesh.
He also assailed the government for depriving the PTI of its election symbol ahead of the 2024 general elections. “And the mistake of his (Imran’s) party’s workers was that they contested the elections on 200 different symbols and turned your own game around on you. You are meting out the punishment for that? You are punishing 240 million people of Pakistan for that?”
The opposition leader also pointed out that Sohail Afridi, who has become non-functional as the chief minister after the imposition of governor’s rule and had been leading the PTI’s march, had not resorted to violence or using expletives in his call for the protest.
He went on to say, “When you try to snatch our right to self-determination, our right to vote, we all will stand against you. All of us, all provinces.”
Noting the participation of the PPP, which is in power in Sindh, Achakzai said it pained him. He then warned that governor’s rule would next be imposed in Sindh over the “occupation of water, mines and streams”.
“And then you will recall your mistake,” he said, noting however that there was still time to rectify mistakes.
“Reverse these decisions,” Achakzai said, urging that Parliament be made the centre of power. “And Pakistan will be saved.”
He warned that when the “state turns against its own people, they are compelled to look elsewhere”.
The opposition also criticised the government over the country’s economic situation.
“You are looting this country’s resources […] Have some mercy on this country. […] This country is drowning because of our mistakes. There is only one way to save it: through its Constitution and Parliament and by having a democratic system,” he asserted.
Achakzai also lamented the fact the Parliament was not taken into confidence over decisions related to foreign affairs, and that Pakistan had strained ties with most of its neighbours.
On Imran, who has not been allowed meetings with his family and associates for a long time, Achakzai said: “Which provision of the Constitution … places a restriction on meetings with the most popular leader of the country?”
He assured that if meetings were arranged with Imran, “we will just try to assess his health condition and will try to resolve matter between you. We promise we will meet him and not tell anyone. […] Have some sense. Negotiate.”
He concluded his address by declaring that the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP was wrong.