• PTI holds ‘shadow proceedings’ during National Assembly sitting
• Minister terms reports of Pakistanis’ mass deportations from UAE ‘false’

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Monday said the opposition would boycott the budget session to protest the denial of medical care to former prime minister Imran Khan.

The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) leader, who also heads a PTI-led opposition alliance, made the announcement in the lower house of parliament, recalling that the deadline given to the government to provide medical care to Mr Khan had lapsed.

He said they would not become part of the ongoing session and also boycott the budget session.

Mr Achakzai said the government had been given time till Monday to provide treatment to Imran Khan, but it failed to do so. He said the opposition will not become a part of the session and will also boycott the budget proceedings. Mr Achakzai’s speech was not broadcast on the television and web channel of the National Assembly.

After his speech, the PTI members gathered near the speaker’s dias and raised slogans in support of Mr Khan. The opposition also held ‘shadow proceedings’ in the house, where Mr Achakzai was addressed as ‘Mr Speaker’. The protest continued during Question Hour.

In response to a question, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry claimed that reports regarding the mass deportations of Pakistani nationals from the UAE were “incorrect and false”.

“These are all social media creations — in fact we have not received any complaint from any person over the deportation from any country and specifically the UAE,” he claimed.

Media reports claim that hundreds of Pakistani nationals had been deported from the UAE after the hostilities started between Iran and the Gulf states. The minister said the prisoners were repatriated, which was a regular issue.

The minister said that a total of 9,233 labour-related complaints were received from Pakistani workers as reported by the Pakistani missions in the Middle East — these include 5,321 from Saudi Arabia, 1,310 from Bahrain, and 850 from Oman, besides Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait.

In response to a different question, he said 164,788 Pakistanis had been deported from the Gulf countries in the last five years. These include 108,029 from Saudi Arabia, 40,497 from the UAE, 9,814 from Oman, 2,971 from Qatar, 2,779 from Bahrain, and 698 from Kuwait.

After Question Hour, PTI members left the house, but a few stayed behind to point out quorum.

However, the session continued as more than 86 treasury members were present in the house. The lawmakers also approved amendments to two laws, besides debating the power and other issues during the session. The NA is set to meet again on Tuesday (today) morning.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2026