ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has formally reached out to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for support in boycotting the upcoming federal budget vote.
The two parties held a key meeting at Parliament House on Monday, where PTI leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser met with PPP’s Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, also a former speaker, to discuss the possibility of jointly walking out during the budget proceedings.
Qaiser expressed that, having heard the concerns raised by PPP leaders regarding the budget, he felt that if PPP was serious about their reservations, they should stand alongside PTI in a boycott.
According to PTI sources, the meeting was part of an effort to put pressure on the coalition government, which PTI criticizes for what it calls an “anti-people budget” and “undemocratic proceedings” in the National Assembly.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf responded by assuring Qaiser that the matter would be discussed with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who was expected to attend the session later that day. He confirmed that PPP would make its final decision on whether to support or oppose the finance bill after consulting with Bhutto-Zardari.
Although PPP has expressed concerns about the budget, no definitive stance has been taken yet regarding the proposed walkout or support for the finance bill.
