Asad Qaiser calls 26th Constitutional Amendment 'unconstitutional'  

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Asad Qaiser has described the process of passing the 26th Constitutional Amendment as unconstitutional, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday.

“For the first time in the history of Pakistan, there has been legislation, which is illegal and immoral,” the former National Assembly speaker said in an address to the lower house of the parliament.

He added: “Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's constitution was violated. There is no democracy in the country. Our lawmakers have been subjected to political persecution and operation.”

He labelled PTI defector Aurangzeb Khichi as Aurangzeb ‘Khachra’. Khichi is among the four PTI defectors who had voted in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment violating the party policy.

The controversial amendment was passed by both houses of parliament on Sunday night and the PTI Monday decided to take legal action against the defectors.

He criticized the defectors and praised the party lawmakers.

“I pay tribute to our members who stood by their leader despite oppression and violence”

He claimed that the sanctity of the parliament was violated during the process of passing the amendment.

He said the PPP chairperson’s role disappointed him.

He repeated the allegation of political persecution and

He said: “We are ashamed to call ourselves parliamentarians as the lower and the upper house did not abide by the constitution and democratic norms.

“We do not accept any legislation by oppression and coercion”

“Asad Qaiser waved the photographs of the voting members in the House too.”

As he used unparliamentary words, the deputy speaker refrained him from doing so.

“Do not use such words for honourable members. Such words are being expunged,” he said.

As the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub pointed out the lack of quorum, the chair explained that the members were busy meeting foreign delegates.

In his address, Abdul Qadir Patel said:  “The struggle of JUI, PPP and PML-N are understandable. But the PTI target is beyond political understanding

“What politics does this PTI do? what is their aim?

“The project of Pasha and Zaheer Islam was imposed on us”

“We told you (PTI) to form the government, but you did not form the government

“If someone else forms a government, you are not letting them run it.”

Syed Khurshid Shah rapped the PTI lawmakers for showing ‘double standard

“There should not be double standards while sitting in opposition

“They came and left.  Our question-and-answer session continued. Who wasted this time?

It is very sad when politicians talk big. This absurdity was abolished in the Charter of Democracy

He recalled a no-confidence motion against ex-PM Imran Khan, stressing: “We did it through the opposition. We opted for a democratic way. We showed patience.”

“The opposition should try to activate the government, instead of acting irresponsibly.”

The National Assembly session adjourned till 11 am tomorrow