Opposition Boycotts Negotiation Meeting Amid Claims of “Black Laws”

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, has scheduled the fourth meeting of the negotiation committees for January 28 at the Parliament House. The meeting, set to be held behind closed doors, comes amidst rising tensions between the government and the opposition over recently passed legislation.

Opposition leader Omar Ayub announced that the PTI will not participate in the meeting, criticizing the government for passing laws without proper debate. “This is the government of Form 47. Thirty-seven laws have been passed without transparency, some in just eleven minutes,” he alleged.

Other opposition leaders, including Barrister Gohar and Shibli Faraz, expressed grave concerns about the PECA Act amendments and other new laws, describing them as draconian measures designed to suppress media and opposition voices. They argued that these laws violate constitutional principles and tarnish Pakistan’s international reputation.

Faraz also highlighted the increasing exodus of citizens fleeing the country and warned that the government is using legislation as a tool to consolidate its power. “These so-called laws are a direct attack on freedom and human rights,” he said.

The opposition condemned the silence of parliamentarians and vowed to resist what they called “black laws” meant to target media, judiciary, and political rivals.