Punjab Assembly witnesses token walkout as opposition members protest

The Punjab Assembly witnessed a token walkout on Monday as opposition members protested against the provincial government

The Punjab Assembly witnessed a token walkout on Monday as opposition members protested against the provincial government for not allowing them to meet their party’s founder and for allegedly filing illegal cases against PTI lawmakers.

The protest was led by Ahmed Khan Bhachar, who along with other opposition members rose in the House and began chanting slogans before walking out in protest.

Bhachar strongly criticized the government’s alleged political victimization, highlighting the recent case against a doctor in Bhakkar who was booked by the government under the PECA Act for showing the government its true face.

He also took aim at the Punjab government’s stance on women’s rights, questioning why senior PTI leader Dr. Yasmin Rashid was not acknowledged during a special ceremony for women held in the Assembly.

“A woman is being raped every 30 minutes in Punjab, yet the Chief Minister claims that women are their red line,” Bhachar remarked, slamming what he described as the government's misplaced priorities.

He further accused the Punjab government of prioritizing the incarceration of the PTI chairman over governance.

“Our entire focus is being diverted toward keeping our party leader behind bars while public money is being wasted on self-promotion,” he alleged.

The opposition's protest culminated in a symbolic walkout, with Bhachar declaring: "We are walking out of the House against the denial of our right to meet our leader and the illegal cases being filed against our MPAs."