• Achakzai offers ‘unconditional support’ for parliamentary supremacy, seeks release of political prisoners
• TTAP chief says situation can be improved in KP and Balochistan with equitable distribution of resources

ISLAMABAD: In his maiden speech as the National Assembly opposition leader on Monday, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who also heads the opposition alliance, extended an olive branch to the government and offered ‘unconditional support’ to empower parliament.

Speaking in the lower house of parliament, Mr Achakzai, who is representing the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), said they would sit together with the government on issues of national importance but demanded confidence-building measures to make this happen.

The PkMAP leader was supposed to deliver his speech on Tuesday, but he arrived in the house at the fag-end of the session, before the deputy speaker could adjourn the house till Tuesday morning.

Clad in his customary beige wool shawl, the opposition leader made a case for constitutional supremacy, saying he would even “kiss the hands” of the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, if he served the Constitution.

The NA opposition leader said Pakistan could afford more protests and assured that the TTAP would support the government if it wanted to empower the house. He, however, said the opposition would give the government a tough time if there were attempts to make parliament weaker.

He also proposed measures to reduce political tensions to pave the way for dialogue, saying that the government should release political prisoners, including Imran Khan. “If you do not release Imran Khan, then at least allow his sisters to meet him without any restrictions in jail,” he said during his speech, parts of which were not aired.

The PkMAP leader also dismissed reports that his appointment as the NA opposition leader was endorsed by the PML-N president, Nawaz Sharif. “I never asked anyone for any favour or positions,” he claimed.

Mr Achakzai called for the equitable distribution of resources and said resources should be shared first with the locals. “If something is obtained from Sindh, it should be given to its people first, and this formula should be applied in all provinces,” he added.

He said people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were being killed every day and the sanctity of four walls was being violated. “The situation can be controlled with the distribution of resources and basic rights,” he added.

He also urged the government not to send its forces to Palestine to allegedly “fight against Hamas” and called for bringing the matter to parliament. “Bring this issue to parliament, we will rescue you by rejecting any such decision,” he added. He stressed the need for holding an international moot on Afghanistan, saying severing trade links with Afghanistan had harmed the national economy.

Speaking on the occasion, PPP leader Ijaz Jakhrani took exception to the remarks by the NA leader of the opposition, in which he termed the opposition members as ‘legitimate MNAs’. “We (treasury benchers) also came here with people’s mandate,” he added. He said four years ago, the PPP chairperson offered then-prime minister Imran Khan a dialogue, which Mr Khan rejected with disdain.

PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government would sit with the opposition for dialogue on national issues. “We are ready for serious talks, but first stop mudslinging,” he added.

The NA also passed four bills on Monday, while five others were introduced before the house.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2026