Govt renews talks offer as PTI protests GB polls in NA

ISLAMABAD: PTI members in the National Assembly protested over alleged rigging in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections on Wednesday, while the government again invited the opposition to hold talks on national issues.

During the sitting, PTI lawmaker Iqbal Afridi stood on the stairs of the speaker’s dais holding a banner against the GB election results. Another lawmaker joined him for a brief demonstration.

Speaking on the floor of the House, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the government was ready for consultations with the opposition. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had extended an invitation for dialogue when his government was formed and urged the opposition to help create what he described as an enabling environment for such engagement.

Tarar also responded to opposition criticism of the government’s performance and to demands regarding meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan. He said the Constitution did not permit convicts to run political parties, issue tickets for legislative assemblies or participate in politics. On the opposition’s allegations about the Gilgit-Baltistan vote, he said evidence should be presented for any claim of rigging.

Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai said the government had failed to run the country. He told the House that the opposition had ended its boycott at the government’s request to present unity during the visit of a Chinese delegation to the National Assembly last month. He added, however, that Imran Khan was still not being allowed to meet his family, friends, lawyers and doctors.

Achakzai had said in the previous session that opposition parties would boycott the budget if court-ordered meetings between Imran Khan and his family were not allowed. He also said Balochistan, Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were burning because of what he alleged were excesses by security forces.

PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said the federal government, after failing on all fronts, was asking provinces to raise more taxes and hand the money to the Centre.

Legislation and committee business

The National Assembly passed The Inter-Boards Coordination Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and The Islamabad Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions (Registration and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026. In addition, several standing committee reports were laid before the House.

Assistance for Pakistanis detained abroad

During question hour, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said Pakistani missions overseas had dedicated sections to support Pakistani prisoners through legal and financial help aimed at ensuring their welfare.

He said mission officials regularly visited prisons and monitored the condition of detainees. According to the minister, prisoners raise complaints about food, medicine and hygiene during those visits, and the issues are taken up with jail authorities.

Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that when a Pakistani national is detained by law enforcement agencies abroad, the date of arrest and the charges are conveyed to Pakistani missions through the host government’s official channels. He said the missions compile this information and maintain a comprehensive databank.

The minister added that efforts were continuing to secure the release of Pakistani hostages held by Somali pirates. He also said no targeted or selective action was being taken against Pakistanis in the UAE.