Opp stages token walkout in Punjab Assembly over Imran Khan’s detention, ‘Illegal cases’ against MPAs

The Punjab Assembly witnessed a token walkout on Monday as opposition members protested against the provincial government for not allowing them to meet their party’s founder and for allegedly filing illegal cases against PTI lawmakers.

Led by Ahmed Khan Bhachar, opposition members raised slogans in the House before walking out in protest. Bhachar strongly criticized the government’s alleged political victimization, citing the recent case against a doctor in Bhakkar under the PECA Act for merely "showing the government its true face."

He also took aim at the Punjab government’s stance on women’s rights, questioning why senior PTI leader Dr. Yasmin Rashid was not acknowledged during a special ceremony for women held in the Assembly.

“A woman is being raped every 30 minutes in Punjab, yet the Chief Minister claims that women are their ‘red line,’” Bhachar remarked, slamming what he described as the government's misplaced priorities.

He further accused the Punjab government of prioritizing the incarceration of the PTI chairman over governance.

“Our entire focus is being diverted toward keeping our party leader behind bars while public money is being wasted on self-promotion,” he alleged.

The opposition's protest ended with a symbolic walkout, with Bhachar declaring: "We are walking out of the House against the denial of our right to meet our leader and the illegal cases being filed against our MPAs."