Heated budget debate grips National Assembly

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly witnessed a tense exchange on Monday as treasury and opposition members clashed during debate on the Interior Ministry’s budget and cut motions, with lawmakers raising issues ranging from security operations and terrorism to political accountability and civil liberties.

The sitting, chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was repeatedly interrupted as opposition members questioned the government’s performance on governance and human rights, while treasury lawmakers defended the state’s record on security and institutional matters.

Government, opposition trade criticism

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry defended the ministry’s performance and said it bore the responsibility of 501 martyrs and several ghazis. He told the House that 1,020 personnel had embraced martyrdom in operations against terrorism. He also said 3,355 terrorist incidents were recorded during the period under review, adding that about 95% of them occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

During the debate, Opposition Leader Barrister Gohar Khan voiced concern over what he described as political victimisation and human rights violations over the past four years. He said such actions weakened democratic norms and eroded trust in institutions. He also criticised the use of the May 9 events for political targeting and argued that legal proceedings should remain free of political influence.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, responding to the opposition, said two opposition members had been given representation in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. He also faulted the opposition for boycotting important meetings and said key criminal law reforms were still pending at the committee stage.

Security concerns raised

JUI-F lawmaker Noor Alam Khan also spoke about the security situation, saying terrorism had badly affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He urged that no distinction should be made between different types of terrorists.

The debate unfolded against the backdrop of wider discussion on federal budget demands. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb placed the demands for grants before the House for approval, while opposition lawmakers moved a large number of cut motions concerning major ministries and divisions.

Grants approved, cut motions rejected

The Assembly approved demands for grants exceeding Rs10.414 trillion for 32 ministries and divisions. In all, 135 demands were passed by the House, while 587 cut motions moved by the opposition were rejected through a majority vote.

According to the proceedings, the opposition had submitted 90 cut motions against the Cabinet Division, 116 against the Energy Division and 100 against the Finance Division, among others, as the budget exercise continued in the lower house.