ISLAMABAD: PTI’s Omar Ayub accused the government of “bulldozing” the ordinances through the assembly and alleged that the language of these ordinances showed that there was ill intention behind this move.

“These ordinances are meant to sell Pakistan. Take pictures of those members who are voting for it,” Mr Omar said as some PTI members tore apart the copies of the ordinances and flew them into the air. This prompted the speaker to issue a warning that he would take disciplinary action next time over such rowdyism.

Responding to the criticism, Law Minister Tarar explained that there had been minor changes in the laws through these ordinances, which were aimed at reducing the government’s control of the boards of some public sector enterprises and making them autonomous.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already issued directives to form a committee comprising allies for legislative business.

“Take pictures of those who are not faithful to the country, who want to destroy Pakistan’s economy and are writing letters to the IMF,” Mr Tarar said while responding to Mr Ayub’s remarks.

Mr Tarar also questioned the legal status of the members sitting on the opposition benches after the Peshawar High Court’s decision to deny them the reserved seats on the quota of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

“Stand behind the country and do not always stand behind a prisoner,” the law minister said in an apparent reference to jailed PTI leader Imran Khan.

“You should engage in some soul-searching, as writing letters to the IMF and EU will not yield any positive results,” Mr Tarar said, defending the government’s move of tabling the ordinances.

The ordinances laid before the assembly were the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023; the Pakistan National Shipping Corpo­ration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023; the Pakistan Postal Services Management Board (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023; the National Highway Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023; the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023; the Privatisation Commission (Amen­dment) Ordinance, 2023; and the Establishment of Telecom­munication Appellate Tribunal Ordinance, 2023.