Dissident PTI MNA denies getting money for supporting 26th Amendment

ISLAMABAD: Independent MNA Aurangzeb Khan Kitchi, who supported the government in the passage of 26th Constitutional Amendment in the National Assembly, claimed on Tuesday he did not receive any payment in return for his support.

Amid an uproar from the opposition benches, Kitchi, who previously belonged to the PTI, alleged that the PTI leadership had “sold out” its parliamentarians. “Standing beneath these sacred names of Allah, I say that may Allah destroy me if I have taken even a single penny,” Kitchi said.

He said that Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, in his speech, mentioned his party members were suffering. “This implies he is aware of everything and is intentionally neglecting us. The PTI leadership has sold out its parliamentarians,” he remarked.

Kitchi, who ran as a PTI-backed independent candidate in the general elections, also claimed the PTI leadership should be grateful to him for preventing the formation of a forward bloc in the National Assembly on the day the 26th Amendment was passed. He acknowledged PTI’s status as a major political party but suggested that its future standing would soon be evident.

As the opposition’s uproar continued, Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa adjourned the session. It is worth mentioning that Aurangzeb Kitchi also met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, with Federal Ministers Attaullah Tarar and Ahad Cheema also in attendance.

Earlier, Opposition Leader Omar Ayub delivered a fiery speech on the assembly floor, criticising the government’s handling of key bills, including those to expand the number of judges in the superior judiciary and extend the fixed tenure of three service chiefs. His comments came a day after parliament passed several bills, including the “Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” the “Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” and three bills to extend the service tenures of three service chiefs from three to five years.

Expressing disappointment over the absence of relevant federal ministers to respond to two calling attention notices, Omar Ayub pointed out that all ministers were present like “obedient servants” to push through the bills. He condemned the passage of six bills as a “shameful incident” and labelled the coalition government a “government of thieves,” sparking a ruckus in the house.

Ayub went on to say that there was no government but rather anarchy in the country, alleging that the PTI founder was the regime’s sole target. He further blamed Maryam Nawaz for the hardships faced by PTI parliamentarians and workers in Punjab. He said that PTI leaders were not allowed to meet the party founder and were instructed to avoid political discussions. “Are we supposed to sell samosas there?” he questioned.