Opp parties to chart strategy on budget

Rasheed says govt will be given a tough time if opposition demands are ignored

LAHORE: Opposition parties in the Provincial Assembly will soon get together to finalise a strategy for the budget session set to begin on June 10, Leader of the Opposition Mehmoodur Rasheed told The Express Tribune on Monday.

He said representatives of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, the Pakistan Peoples Party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q and the Jamaat-i-Islami would also consider preparation for public agitation if Opposition’s budget proposals were ignored by the government.

Rasheed said that during the pre-budget debate in the Provincial Assembly the Opposition had conveyed to the government its reservations over the outgoing fiscal year’s budgetary allocations. He said it had also shared its expectations from the budget for the upcoming year. “

Rasheed said there was unanimous agreement among the opposition parties that the government should be given a tough time in the budget session if Opposition’s demands were ignored. “We are prepared to stage protests in or out of the House if needed,” he said.

Rasheed said Opposition benches had patiently sat through the chief minister’s speech at his unexpected and delayed appearance in the Provincial Assembly during the last session. However, he said, the Treasury benches had not reciprocated the gesture during his speech.

On distribution of development funds, Rasheed said the Opposition members had just been assured that the chief minister would soon meet them to listen to their grievances. No progress had been made in this regard, he added. He said a policy needed to be evolved to improve distribution of development funds between Treasury and Opposition members. However, he said, he did not think the government would resolve the issue anytime soon.

Earlier, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had dismissed the opposition’s complaint about distribution of development funds.

In the pre-budget debate held in April, Rasheed had demanded that the government prioritise education, health, sanitation and agriculture sectors in the upcoming budget.

Speaking to the media on Monday, he reiterated the demand and said that provision of basic necessities to the people should be prioritised over mega projects.

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On distribution of development funds, Rasheed said the Opposition members had just been assured that the chief minister would soon meet them to listen to their grievances.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2016.