Heated exchanges mark National Assembly budget debate

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s budget session on Wednesday was marked by repeated clashes between treasury and opposition lawmakers, with several exchanges turning heated enough for the speaker to order unparliamentary remarks removed from the record.

The sitting, chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, saw sharp confrontations between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members over political and budget-related matters. At several points, tensions rose to a level that brought proceedings close to disorder.

Asad Qaiser targets Khawaja Asif

Former speaker Asad Qaiser, speaking on a point of personal explanation, strongly criticised Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and called on him to resign. He also raised questions about political negotiations and alleged electoral conduct.

Qaiser said talks involving intelligence officers had taken place at his residence as well as at the Speaker’s House during discussions linked to Financial Action Task Force-related legislation. He also referred to the February 8, 2024 elections and alleged irregularities in the electoral process. He challenged Khawaja Asif to resign and contest against PTI leader Rehana Dar if he had any doubts about the mandate, while arguing that Asif had not objected to what Qaiser described as mandate theft, including in Dar’s case.

Budget speech interrupted by confrontation

During the debate, National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government had included a number of schemes for farmers in the budget. He also said the tax system was being connected to a faceless mechanism so that no taxpayer could be blackmailed.

His speech triggered another tense episode when PTI lawmaker Aatif Khan objected, setting off a verbal exchange between members on both sides of the aisle. The situation escalated when lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches moved toward one another, but other members stepped in before the confrontation worsened.

Later in the sitting, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar criticised the budget and called for the withdrawal of what he termed an unconstitutional faceless system.

Further rows and low attendance

Another dispute broke out during the speech of PML-N MNA Azhar Qayyum Nahra when his criticism of PTI founder Imran Khan drew a protest from opposition member Shafqat Awan. The exchange involved unparliamentary language from both sides, after which women lawmakers protested over the use of inappropriate remarks in the House. Minister of State Talal Chaudhry and other members later helped calm the situation.

The session also saw barbs traded between Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and Pakistan Peoples Party members. PPP MNA Naz Baloch, without naming MQM-P, raised questions related to the Baldia Town tragedy, extortion and china-cutting in parks. In response, MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan said people involved in large-scale corruption had been allowed to stay in politics. He also said complaints about Sindh’s deprivation reflected the failure of the 18th Constitutional Amendment and called for it to be rolled back.

PPP lawmaker Shazia Marri urged that no hurdles be created in the formation of a PPP-led government in Gilgit-Baltistan. She also demanded that Islamabad International Airport be renamed after Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

At one stage, when Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah was in the chair, he warned members that he would have to suspend proceedings if order was not maintained. After the Maghrib break, attendance fell sharply, with only 19 members present as the budget debate continued. The sitting was later adjourned until 11am on Thursday.