ISLAMABAD(National Times)- The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year during a session that saw the opposition staging a walkout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb moved the bill for the House to approve the budget proposals for the next fiscal year after the opposition\u2019s walkout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The walkout was preceded by a speech by NA Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who had criticised the government over several issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His speech was not livestreamed on the NA\u2019s social media platforms or on television channels, even after Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday lifted<\/a> longstanding curbs on the airing and dissemination of opposition members\u2019 speeches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Later, Achakzai posted on X: \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Achakzai, this excerpt was from his address in the NA, which was \u201ccensored\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sparks flew in the House as Achakzai assailed the federal government, prompting a strong response from Speaker Sadiq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The opposition leader began his speech by criticising Sadiq. \u201cWe will have to change our tone now that your government has completed 2.5 years,\u201d he said, criticising Sadiq for his conduct as the speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou did not care about the Constitution and law as you dismissed 14 of your colleagues from the Assembly,\u201d Achakzai said, seemingly referring to PTI\u2019s disqualified members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also criticised the government for sentencing<\/a> Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)\u2019s Dr Mahrang Baloch to life imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NA opposition leader further slammed the government for its response to the recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turning guns on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was also present in the House, Achakzai referred to an earlier speech by him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did not enjoy the way Shehbaz bhai<\/em> spoke. He told me that we are here because Pakistan is still here, and I think he was absolutely correct in saying that,\u201d Achakzai said. He, however, added: \u201cBut, Pakistan is not some imaginary country that exists in the skies. It means Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab. Why don\u2019t you see KP as part of Pakistan?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The opposition leader accused the government of \u201cclipping the wings\u201d of the judiciary and \u201ctrampling the Constitution\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMistakes happen, but let us strengthen this House with the support it needs,\u201d he urged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you afraid of? Call the people of Balochistan here and tell them that your children have the right to Balochistan\u2019s resources,\u201d he urged the prime minister. \u201cSay the same to Sindh and KP,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to Achakzai\u2019s remarks, the NA speaker said the opposition was in a \u201cstate of confusion\u201d and held that he would not allow anyone to speak against \u201cPakistan, armed forces, and the judiciary\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you call this a violation of the Constitution, then I am willing to commit such violations,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He further stated that despite the opposition questioning the legitimacy of Parliament, \u201cyou speak for more than your allotted time; does the parliament not appear fake to you then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rebuking the opposition leader, Speaker Sadiq further alleged that the opposition had always refused to participate in parliamentary committees despite being asked repeatedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are in a confused state of mind,\u201d he said, reiterating that the House stood united \u201cwhen it comes to Pakistan\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a statement issued later in the day, he freedom of expression \u201cmust be exercised within the framework of the Constitution, rules and established parliamentary norms\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As per the statement, he said that maintaining the sanctity and dignity of Parliament remained his foremost responsibility, adding that \u201cdemocratic institutions must be respected and strengthened through constructive engagement\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The national interest, sovereignty, and stability should remain the collective priority of all elected representatives, the statement quoted the speaker as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The opposition, including Achakzai, walked out of the NA midway through his remarks. However, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl\u2019s members stayed in the House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking in the House after Achakzai\u2019s 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 \u201clong-lasting agreement\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPakistan tried its best, with complete sincerity, to bridge the distance between the two sides,\u201d he said, adding that the dialogue that began on Sunday stretched past midnight into Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s nuclear assets, ballistic missiles and frozen assets, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe fully hope that the MoU will turn into a long-lasting agreement over the next 60 days, leading to peace in the world,\u201d he hoped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The premier went on to congratulate the nation and members of the House, including those from the opposition, highlighting Pakistan\u2019s \u201ckey\u201d and \u201chistoric\u201d role in mediating between the two sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe world\u2019s renowned newspapers featured Pakistan on their front pages,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PM Shehbaz termed it a \u201cpositive narrative\u201d regarding Pakistan, adding that \u201cwe would not have been able to achieve it even after spending billions of rupees\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mentioning that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was due in Pakistan today, he said the day\u2019s 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\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He then responded to Achakzai\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The premier explained that any desk-thumping by him would have been in connection with Pakistan\u2019s diplomatic endeavours for peace between the US and Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also said remarks by him about Balochistan\u2019s resources in his previous speech reflected his happiness over the increase in the province\u2019s resources under the National Finance Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PM Shehbaz further stated that he had also always said that just one province\u2019s progress was not the entire country\u2019s progress. \u201cI have always said that Pakistan will not progress until all four provinces progress,\u201d he said, regretting that the opposition leader presented his words \u201cdifferently\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The premier said the opposition leader had called the incumbent government \u201cillegitimate\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ISLAMABAD(National Times)- 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\u2019s walkout. The walkout was preceded by a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":128160,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-128159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>Achakzai assails govt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>PM hopes US-Iran MoU leads to \u2018long-standing agreement\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n