The party expressed strong displeasure, calling the move unconstitutional and against established parliamentary practice. PPP leaders said this was the first time an ordinance had been enforced without the formal consent and signature of the President, a step they described as deeply troubling for democratic norms.

The National Assembly session on Monday began 36 minutes late under the chairmanship of Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. At the outset, the Speaker announced the panel of chairpersons for the current parliamentary session.

During the proceedings, senior PPP leader and former Speaker Syed Naveed Qamar raised the issue on the floor, stressing that lawmaking is the core duty of parliament. He questioned how the government could issue an ordinance without presidential approval, noting that even during periods of authoritarian rule, such a practice had not been witnessed.

He added that the ordinance appeared to have been enforced without legal cover, calling it a serious breach of constitutional procedure. Following these remarks, PPP lawmakers walked out of the House in protest.

The party later reiterated its stance, stating that the manner in which the ordinance was issued was neither lawful nor acceptable. PPP announced that, in protest, it would not participate in the next National Assembly session and would convene a meeting of its parliamentary party to discuss the matter further.

Responding to the criticism, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the House that several laws had already received presidential assent and that the government believed the relevant ordinance had also been signed.

He acknowledged that multiple bills and ordinances were currently pending with the President and assured the House that any ambiguity would be reviewed.

Meanwhile, PPP member Hussain Tariq pointed out a lack of quorum during the session. The Speaker confirmed that the House did not have the required attendance and suspended the session for 15 minutes. As the quorum was still not met, the National Assembly was adjourned until 11 a.m. the following day.

Separately, the PPP parliamentary party meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will preside over the meeting via Zoom. According to party sources, members will hold detailed consultations on the constitutional implications of the ordinance and decide on the future course of action.

The development has added a new layer of tension between coalition partners and has once again brought the debate on constitutional procedure and executive authority into sharp focus.