Indian delegates attempt to interrupt Ayaz Sadiq’s address at Commonwealth conference

Indian delegates attempt to interrupt Ayaz Sadiq's address at Commonwealth conference.

Key points

• Khan Published September 16, 2026 Updated September 16, 2026 09: 51pm.
• The Indian delegates' attempts to seize the microphone affected the atmosphere of the session, prompting direct intervention by the host and the Jamaican speaker.
• After India's move, Pakistan termed any attempt to suspend its water share an "act of war", noting the IWT had no provision for unilateral suspension.
• Khan is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with over three decades of experience in journalism.
• In his address, Speaker Sadiq, without naming any country or delegation, presented a principled position on tackling climate change and stressed the responsibilities of the international community.

Iftikhar A. Khan Published September 16, 2026 Updated September 16, 2026 09: 51pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

As he spoke regarding climate adaptation and climate justice, ISLAMABAD: Indian delegates reportedly attempted to interrupt National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq's address at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

According to information available, the Indian delegates repeatedly sought to intervene during Sadiq's speech, with footage showing attempts to obtain hold of the microphone and disrupt the proceedings.

Sadiq had raised the matter of "water terrorism" during his address without naming any country, in the context of broader worries over climate change, water resources and climate justice.

Notably, the Indian delegates' attempts to seize the microphone affected the atmosphere of the session, prompting direct intervention by the host and the Jamaican speaker. This person asked them either to remain silent or leave the hall. Meanwhile, other participants advised the Indian delegates to listen patiently to Speaker Sadiq's address.

Despite the disruption, the discussion on climate adaptation and climate justice continued.

He raised problems, including the sudden surge of water in rivers and the withholding of water, without naming any country.

Speaker Sadiq remarked climate adaptation policies should be formulated with effective public participation, adding that oversight by democratic institutions was indispensable to policies aimed at addressing climate change.

He continued that climate change was affecting various spheres of life, including food, water and health, noting that Pakistan was among the countries most affected by climate change.

"Tackling climate change requires climate justice and the inclusion of democratic institutions, " he remarked, adding that parliamentary dialogue on global challenges such as climate change should be serious, purposeful and constructive.

He remarked the role of parliaments was notable in the practical implementation of climate policies and that international climate finance should come under parliamentary oversight.

"The Parliament of Pakistan is playing an important role in climate adaptation through legislation, budgetary oversight and committees, " he remarked, adding that the inclusion of women, youth and other segments of society was indispensable to addressing climate change.

"To deal with climate risks, parliaments should benefit from mutual experiences, " he remarked, adding that to meet the challenges of climate change, parliaments should promote cooperation and meaningful dialogue rather than differences.

"Strong democratic institutions are indispensable for strong and vibrant societies, " Speaker Sadiq remarked, adding that climate adaptation could be effective only with fair financial assistance and democratic accountability.

After New Delhi's unilateral abeyance of the accord in April last year – a move that was followed by a brief military conflict between the two sides in May 2025, the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) remains a contentious matter between Pakistan and India.

After India's move, Pakistan termed any attempt to suspend its water share an "act of war", noting the IWT had no provision for unilateral suspension. It afterwards argued that Delhi's action was a violation of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

In August, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague additionally ordered India to uphold the IWT with Pakistan and suspend work on a hydro project in occupied Kashmir.

Iftikhar A. Khan is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with over three decades of experience in journalism. He covers the parliament, the Election Commission of Pakistan, and the Interior Ministry.

Taken together, the developments around indian delegates attempt to interrupt Ayaz Sadiq's address at Commonwealth conference point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.