MPA walks out as budget debated in K-P

JI parliamentary leader continued to sit in the session without a face mask

PESHAWAR: An opposition lawmaker walked out of the provincial assembly on Monday as a debate on the budget for the fiscal year 2020-21 commenced.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Nighat Orakzai protested against the discrimination in the time allotted to different lawmakers to speak on the budget. The speaker had allocated 15 minutes for each parliamentary leader to voice their views on the budget while all other MPAs were given just five minutes.

Orakzai contended that this was discriminatory and that they should be given equal time. However, Jan rejected Orakzai’s demands, ruling that a decision on the time to be allotted for each lawmaker had been taken during a joint meeting of government and opposition parties.

The post-budget session commenced in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly on Monday.

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Parliamentary Leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman kicked off proceedings by presenting his views of the provincial money bill. As he did so, he was interrupted by Mehmood Jan.

Deputing for K-P Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani - who had contracted the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) ahead of the session - Jan asked Rehman to first cover his face with a mask.

Curiously, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Parliamentary Leader Inayatullah Khan, who had recently recovered from Covid-19, continued to sit in the session without a face mask.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2020.