ISLAMABAD: Government passed four bills, including the Trade Organisations Amendment Bill 2021, during Friday’s joint session of parliament, despite disruptions caused by opposition lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The session, presided over by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, began an hour later than scheduled. PTI lawmakers created a ruckus in the house, holding placards and vocally opposing the proceedings. Prominent figures, including Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and Sherry Rehman, were present.  However, Bilawal Bhutto arrived after the session had ended. Opposition members requested the right to speak on points of order, but the speaker denied the microphone to the opposition leader, prompting protests. Opposition members chanted slogans rejecting the PECA Act during the session. As protests and sloganeering intensified, the proceedings were severely disrupted, prompting the Speaker to wear headphones to continue the session.