PPP Walks Out of National Assembly Over Special Economic Zones Ordinance
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) staged a walkout from the National Assembly on Tuesday, protesting the issuance of the Special Economic Zones Ordinance without the signature of President Asif Ali Zardari.
During the session, PPP lawmakers left the House, with senior party leader Naveed Qamar stating that lawmaking is the Assembly’s primary responsibility, but for the first time the government had enforced an ordinance that had not been approved by the president.
He said the ordinance had no legal standing and added that under such circumstances, the party could not remain part of the proceedings.
Responding to the protest, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar urged PPP members to listen to his explanation, saying the matter circulating on social media had already been taken into notice.
He clarified that the government would not formally notify the ordinance until it receives presidential assent.
Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari convened a meeting of the party’s parliamentary members over the issuance of the ordinance without the president’s signature.
Sources said the meeting would focus on consulting party lawmakers over concerns related to the constitutional procedure and the protection of parliamentary norms.
