ISLAMABAD: The Parliament at a joint sitting today [Aug 26] approved the Government’s move for continuance of the state of emergency for a further period of six months. The emergency was due to expire on Sept 3. Earlier, the House heard a three-and-a-half-hour debate in which the Leader of the Opposition Khan Abdul Wali Khan accused the Government of creating a series of crises in the country in order to justify its existence. The Prime Minister, Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, justified the continuance of emergency making a point-by-point reply to Mr. Wali Khan and accused the Opposition leader and his party of trying to disintegrate what was left of Pakistan.

The Opposition members were, however, not present in the House to listen … as they had … staged a walkout. … [News agencies add] winding up the debate, the [PM] … declared that his Government was not responsible for any political, economic and religious problems besetting the nation. He pointed out that by acknowledging that a crisis existed in the country, the Opposition leader had … justified the need of continuing the … emergency. Mr Bhutto described the … walkout … as most undemocratic. — Islamabad Bureau

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2024