- MQM, PTI members not allowed to speak during session
KARACHI: Opposition parties of the Sindh Assembly boycotted a budget session after Muttahida-Qaumi-Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members were not allowed to speak during the session.
The session of Sindh Assembly was chaired by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani. MQM member Kanwar Naveed attempted to talk of worsening law and order situation Karachi, but he was not allowed to do so by the speaker.
“I cannot allow any member to talk on point of order during the budget session,” the speaker said.
On that note, MQM walked out, taking issue with the behaviour of the speaker.
PTI’s Firdous Shamim Naqvi also tried to speak in the house without seeking prior permission, and he was also not allowed by the speaker.
Later, PTI also walked out of the session.
SINDH CHIEF MINISTER PROPOSES BUDGET CUTS:
Earlier on September 17, Sindh Assembly session was postponed after Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah presented budget recommendations for the next nine months, announcing a cut in the development budget.
“The caretaker government had presented a budget for three months,” the chief minister added.
“We have curtailed the provincial development budget. An earlier allocation of Rs598.9 billion for new schemes has been cut down to Rs26 billion,” he added.
The Sindh CM had added, “The development budget has been reduced due to financial issues.”
“In the previous year, taxes of more than Rs598.9 billion were accumulated by the Sindh government as was sales tax of Rs100 billion,” he had added.
Shah continued, “958 schemes initiated as part of annual development programme will be completed this year.”
“Rs102.48 billion have been allocated for the Sindh Home Department and Rs2 billion for department’s development programmes.”
The Sindh chief minister further assured, “We are taking measures to improve the quality of life of common people.”
