ISLAMABAD: In response to opposition members’ boycott of the National Assembly session, the members held a session outside the Parliament.
This move had come in response to the opposition’s reservations that their speeches over the federal budget were not given live coverage by the state broadcaster — Pakistan Television, hence they had warned to hold the next NA session outside the Parliament.
Members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), among others, are attending the session.
The session was initially chaired by PTI’s Arif Alvi.
The finance minister tried to deceive the people, claimed opposition members, adding that the fiscal deficit is understated by the government.
Opposition not being given the right to give their opinion on television claimed PTI’s Shireen Mazari. “This is why we have kept a session outside the Parliament,” she added.
Alvi started a debated on the ongoing power crises in the country. JI’s Sahibzada Tariqullah severely criticised the government stating that the people in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are facing 14-hour load shedding every day.
Continuing the discussion, PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi remarked that 14 to 18 hour load shedding is taking place across the country.
“The government has failed. It is failing to provide people with electricity, gas and water.” Health and education are not even a priority of the government, he added.
PPP Opposition leader, Khursheed Shah, said “250 million is the population of the country according to the census.” What will happen if the country’s population becomes 500 million in the next 15 years? he asked.
“We are told that planning is under way to solve the water crisis. Only Rs20 billion have been allocated for construction of the Bhasha Dam. If this continues then the dam will be built in 20 years,” he warned.
People in Karachi are out on streets as they have no electricity, he remarked further. “The rulers don’t care about the problems of the poor,” he lamented further.
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai came outside the parliament and tried to reason with Khursheed Shah during the opposition leader’s address but Shah responded, “I will talk to you after getting free from here.”
The opposition members started chanting ‘Go Nawaz Go’ slogans during the presence of PML-N-allied Achakzai, who eventually went back.
Addressing the session, PTI’s Asad Umer claimed Pakistan’s exports have never been this low in its history.
