The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year during a session that saw the opposition staging a walkout.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb moved the bill for the House to approve the budget proposals for the next fiscal year after the opposition’s walkout.
The walkout was preceded by a speech by NA Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who had criticized the government over several issues.
His speech was not livestreamed on the NA’s social media platforms or on television channels, even after Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday lifted longstanding curbs on the airing and dissemination of opposition members’ speeches.
Later, Achakzai posted on X: “We have taken an oath to protect the Constitution of Pakistan. You have supported undemocratic forces in trampling the Constitution; through your vote, you have clipped the wings of the judiciary.”
According to Achakzai, this excerpt was from his address in the NA, which was “censored”.
Achakzai assaults govt
Sparks flew in the House as Achakzai assailed the federal government, prompting a strong response from Speaker Sadiq.
The opposition leader began his speech by criticizing Sadiq. “We will have to change our tone now that your government has completed 2.5 years,” he said, criticizing Sadiq for his conduct as the speaker.
“You did not care about the Constitution and law as you dismissed 14 of your colleagues from the Assembly,” Achakzai said, seemingly referring to PTI’s disqualified members.
He also criticized the government for Sentencing Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)’s Dr Mahrang Baloch to life imprisonment.
The NA opposition leader further slammed the government for its response to the recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Turning guns on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was also present in the House, Achakzai referred to an earlier speech by him.
“I did not enjoy the way Shehbaz bhai spoke. He told me that we are here because Pakistan is still here, and I think he was absolutely correct in saying that,” Achakzai said. He, however, added: “But, Pakistan is not some imaginary country that exists in the skies. It means Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab. Why don’t you see KP as part of Pakistan?”
The opposition leader accused the government of “clipping the wings” of the judiciary and “trampling the Constitution”.
“Mistakes happen, but let us strengthen this House with the support it needs,” he urged.
“What are you afraid of? Call the people of Balochistan here and tell them that your children have the right to Balochistan’s resources,” he urged the prime minister. “Say the same to Sindh and KP,” he added.
In response to Achakzai’s remarks, the NA speaker said the opposition was in a “state of confusion” and held that he would not allow anyone to speak against “Pakistan, armed forces, and the judiciary”.
“If you call this a violation of the Constitution, then I am willing to commit such violations,” he remarked.
He further stated that despite the opposition questioning the legitimacy of Parliament, “you speak for more than your allotted time; does the parliament not appear fake to you then?”
Rebuking the opposition leader, Speaker Sadiq further alleged that the opposition had always refused to participate in parliamentary committees despite being asked repeatedly.
“You are in a confused state of mind,” he said, reiterating that the House stood united “when it comes to Pakistan”.
In a statement issued later in the day, he freedom of expression “must be exercised within the framework of the Constitution, rules and established parliamentary norms”.
As per the statement, he said that maintaining the sanctity and dignity of Parliament remained his foremost responsibility, adding that “democratic institutions must be respected and strengthened through constructive engagement”.
The national interest, sovereignty, and stability should remain the collective priority of all elected representatives, the statement quoted the speaker as saying.
The opposition, including Achakzai, walked out of the NA midway through his remarks. However, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s members stayed in the House.
PM hopes US-Iran MoU leads to ‘long-standing agreement’
Speaking in the House after Achakzai’s walkout, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope that the memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran before the two sides held talks in Switzerland over the weekend would turn into a “long-lasting agreement”.
In his brief speech, he recalled the developments at the recent summit in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, where delegations from the US and Iran held an hours-long discussion with Pakistan and Qatar participating as mediators.
“Pakistan tried its best, with complete sincerity, to bridge the distance between the two sides,” he said, adding that the dialogue that began on Sunday stretched past midnight into Monday.
He recalled that a joint statement was issued by the mediators in the early hours of Monday after the dialogue concluded, noting that technical talks would be held between the US and Iran over the next 60 days. The negotiations would also cover Iran’s nuclear assets, ballistic missiles and frozen assets, he added.
“We fully hope that the MoU will turn into a long-lasting agreement over the next 60 days, leading to peace in the world,” he hoped.
The premier went on to congratulate the nation and members of the House, including those from the opposition, highlighting Pakistan’s “key” and “historic” role in mediating between the two sides.
“The world’s renowned newspapers featured Pakistan on their front pages,” he said.
PM Shehbaz termed it a “positive narrative” regarding Pakistan, adding that “we would not have been able to achieve it even after spending billions of rupees”.
Mentioning that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was due in Pakistan today, he said the day’s discussion would focus on strengthening ties between the two countries, and this was not the time to raise differences. The premier expressed this grievance, noting Achakzai’s absence.
He then responded to Achakzai’s criticism of his speech during a previous session, noting that the opposition leader had also taken exception to him thumping the desk at the time.
The premier explained that any desk-thumping by him would have been in connection with Pakistan’s diplomatic endeavors for peace between the US and Iran.
He also said his remarks about Balochistan’s resources in his previous speech reflected his happiness over the increase in the province’s resources under the National Finance Commission.
PM Shehbaz further stated that he had also always said that just one province’s progress was not the entire country’s progress. “I have always said that Pakistan will not progress until all four provinces progress,” he said, regretting that the opposition leader presented his words “differently”.
The premier said the opposition leader had called the incumbent government “illegitimate”. The premier said in his response that 2018 elections should be investigated, and if the government that came after those polls was legitimate, the incumbent government was also legitimate.
