The National Assembly continued its session on Friday under the leadership of Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, with lawmakers engaged in discussions over the federal budget in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai addressed the House during the debate, emphasizing that the Constitution guarantees the right to protest and highlighting the significance of safeguarding democratic freedoms amid the budget deliberations.
Participating actively in the budget discussion, Achakzai insisted that all parliamentary procedures must uphold constitutional rights. He underscored that political disputes should be resolved strictly within the framework of the Constitution and parliamentary processes, as members from both the treasury and opposition benches exchanged their views on the fiscal proposals.
In a significant development, Achakzai also reflected on his previous political mediation efforts. He stated that he has played a role in facilitating communication between senior leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
He elaborated that his engagement with political leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to reduce tensions among rival parties. Achakzai further recalled arranging meetings involving prominent figures such as Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. Notably, he mentioned organizing gatherings in London that brought together representatives from multiple political parties to discuss a common political agenda.