Pakistan’s opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai sparked a fresh political debate during the National Assembly’s budget session, questioning the country’s democratic process and urging political leaders to move beyond confrontation in favor of dialogue and reconciliation.
Speaking at the start of the budget debate, Achakzai delivered a passionate address in which he called for strengthening parliament and resolving political disputes through mutual understanding rather than political rivalry.
“Is depriving those who have won elections of their mandate not a violation of the Constitution?” he asked, raising concerns about electoral fairness and democratic representation. He said he had always stood with the oppressed and supported efforts aimed at strengthening parliamentary institutions.
Addressing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Achakzai said mistakes can be corrected if political leaders are willing to sit together and engage in meaningful dialogue.
“I say to Shehbaz Sharif that wrong decisions can be rectified. Let us sit together and move the country forward,” he told lawmakers. He emphasized that a stronger parliament would benefit not only political parties but also the country and its people.
The opposition leader also highlighted economic concerns, criticizing policies that he said had negatively affected farmers. Referring to reports of growers discarding onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and other produce due to low returns, he argued that ordinary citizens and agricultural communities were facing increasing hardship.
Achakzai further criticized what he described as political exclusion and urged the government to adopt a more inclusive approach toward opposition voices.
In one of the most notable parts of his speech, he appealed for restraint in dealing with Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He argued that excessive pressure on political opponents would only deepen divisions and questioned why meetings with the jailed former prime minister should be considered controversial.
“Nothing will be achieved by sending each other to prison,” Achakzai said, urging political forces to find common ground instead of escalating conflicts.
He also proposed a broad political agreement among parties under which election results would be respected and whichever party wins a mandate would be allowed to complete its full five-year constitutional term without interference.
His remarks come at a time of intense political polarization, with calls for dialogue and democratic stability continuing to dominate Pakistan’s national conversation.
