PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto termed the government’s decision to postpone the joint parliament session scheduled for today (Thursday) as a victory for the Opposition.
Earlier, the government called a session in order to pass the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance (Amendment) Bill and electoral reforms bill among other legislation items. However, later President Arif Alvi withdrew the order for the joint session of the parliament.
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Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also revealed the news on his Twitter account before the President’s order.
“Electoral reforms are the country’s future and we, with the best of intention, are trying to develop a consensus on this. In this regard, [the speaker] has been tasked to hold talks with the Opposition so that a unanimously agreed upon electoral reform bill can be presented,” he said.
پارلیمان کے مشترکہ اجلاس کو اس مقصد کیلئے موْ خر کیا جا رہا ہے۔ ہمیں امید ہے اپوزیشن ان اہم اصلاحات پر سنجیدگی سے غور کرے گی اور ہم پاکستان کے مستقبل کیلئے ایک مشترکہ لائحہ عمل اختیار کر پائیں گے، تاہم ایسا نہ ہونے کی صورت میں ہم اصلاحات سے پیچھے نہیں ہٹ سکتے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 10, 2021
Reacting to the news, Bilawal Bhutto mocked Imran Khan. He said the “Kaptaan ran away.” He also called it a victory for the Opposition.
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“Yet another victory for the united opposition in the Parliament today. Government ran away from joint sessions when they saw they would be defeated yet again. Kaptaan Bagh[sic] gaya,” he said while sharing the President’s notification.
Yet another victory for the United opposition in parliament today. Government ran away from joint sessions when they saw they would be defeated yet again. Kaptaan Bagh gaya pic.twitter.com/gyovC6HBw7
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 10, 2021
The government retreated due to the Opposition: Bilawal
Earlier, while addressing the MNAs at a dinner he hosted at the Senate’s banquet hall, Bilawal said that the government had to postpone the Parliament’s joint session due to the efforts of the Opposition.
“Due to the opposition’s contacts with the government’s allies, the government had to retreat and cancel the joint session. Thanks to [leader of the Opposition] Shahbaz Sharif who gathered the Opposition parties,” said Bilawal.
"اپوزیشن اراکین کی ملاقات سے حکومت گھبرا گئی ہے اور ان کی گھبراہٹ کا ثبوت آج مشترکہ اجلاس کو ملتوی کر کے بھاگنا ہے۔"
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری@BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/FqZGhmYbUp— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) November 10, 2021
He said that the president of Pakistan had issued a notification for the joint session of the Parliament but the government revoked the notification by announcing to postpone the session.
“Postponing the session is also a disgrace to the president”, he said.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif also criticized the government. He said by postponing the joint meeting, Imran Khan had once again upheld his long tradition of taking U-turns.
“The hasty convening of the joint meeting and then the hasty adjournment shows the seriousness of the government that had made sensitive and serious issues like legislation a child’s play,” he said.
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