WATCH: PPP's Shagufta slaps PTI's Ghazala as govt tables ‘mini-budget’

Videos of ugly exchanges between parliamentarians of both sides of the aisle go viral on social media

As the government tabled Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021 and State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the National Assembly on Thursday, the session got heated up when PPP parliamentarian Shagufta Jamani slapped PTI MNA Ghazala Waheed.

As the NA session began with Speaker Asad Qaiser in chair, the opposition members tore the copies of the agenda and surrounded his dais.

An intense protest against the bills escalated into fisticuffs between Shagufta and Ghazala. Videos of the incident and other ugly exchanges between the lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties went viral over social media.

قومی اسمبلی کا اجلاس

فنانس ترمیمی بل پیش ہونے کے موقع پر پی پی پی کی شگفتہ جمانی اور پی ٹی آئی کی رکن غزالہ سیفی میں ہاتھا ہائی

#MiniBudgetByPTIMF pic.twitter.com/WUcH3iWkv5

— Aatif Khan Khattak (@MalakAatifKhan) December 30, 2021

Parliamentarians of both sides of the aisle also tried to cool down the situation.

تحریک انصاف کی رکن غزالہ کیفی نے تھپڑ کھانے کے بعد پیپلزپارٹی کی رکن شگفتہ جمانی کو جنگلی کہہ دیا...#MiniBudgetByPTIMF @MediaCellPPP pic.twitter.com/wFd7cubdo6

— Khurram Ansari (@khurram143) December 30, 2021

Read more: Govt tables ‘mini-budget’, SBP amendment bill in NA amid ruckus

PPP’s leader Syed Naveed Qamar while raising objections overextending the ordinance said after its expiry the move was against the rules of parliament.

تم قوم کے غدار ہو، تم 22کروڑ عوام کے غدار ہو، تم IMF کے ایجنٹ ہو، بھائی کھیل داس @KesooMalKheealD کا شوکت ترین کو قومی اسمبلی میں احتجاج کے دوران زبردست تنقید کا نشانہ.
ایوان گو نیازی گو کے نعروں سے گونج اٹھا.#MiniBudgetByPTIMF pic.twitter.com/TOvRevwoeh

— عمران شاہین (@imshee67) December 30, 2021

Speaking on the floor of the house, PML-N leader Khawaja Asif while referring to the SBP bill accused the PTI-led government of compromising on the country’s economic sovereignty.

While urging the house not to approve the bill, Asif said the country’s central bank has been “handed over to IMF”.

Also read: Cabinet okays SBP bill, defers mini-budget

Earlier today, the lower house of parliament adopted various resolutions extending various ordinances for a period of 120 days. These ordinances include; “the Federal Government Properties Management Authority Ordinance, 2021”, “the Elections (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021”, “the Public Properties (Removal of Encroachment) Ordinance, 2021”, “the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021”, “the Pakistan Food Security Flow and Information Ordinance, 2021” and “the Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021”.

The house adopted the resolutions with a majority vote despite strong protest from the opposition.