Walkout, pandemonium mar budget debate

Opposition accuses PML-N leader of threatening PTI founder

LAHORE:

The budget debate in the Punjab Assembly was marred by a walkout from the treasury benches for the second time in a week on Monday.

Information Minister Azma Bukhari alleged that a legislator from the opposition had made an explicit gesture towards the treasury benches.

On the direction of Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar, opposition and treasury members persuaded their colleagues who had walked out to return to the house.

On the third day of the general discussion on the annual budget 2023-24, opposition highlighted weaknesses in the document, while the legislators from the treasury benches applauded it along with appeals for more focus on various sectors.

Pandemonium erupted in the house when Deputy Opposition Leader Moeen Riaz Qureshi sought to raise a point of order expressing concern over a statement of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sana Ullah regarding the life of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan.

Qureshi said former prime minister Khan had already faced an attack soon after similar threats in the past, and now again such statements were surfacing.

He termed Rana Sana’s statement a threat to Imran Khan’s life.

He also said that the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) women, including senior leaders, were still facing false and forged cases, which was regrettable.

Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari objected to continuous intervention of the opposition lawmakers during the speeches of the treasury legislators.

As the opposition lawmakers created pandemonium in the house, the minister started shouting at them, alleging that one of them had made an objectionable gesture.

She left the house in protest against the opposition’s conduct along with other women members, saying she could not compromise on the dignity of the women.

Opposition lawmakers said the government should answer queries rather than escaping.

During the budget debate, senior lawmaker Rana Aftab criticised the government over its non-seriousness measures and inadequate allocation for education. He asked the treasury members if the children of anyone of them studied in a government school.

He said the health, agriculture, law and order and other sectors also required serious attention.

PML-N’s Amjad Ali Javed and Rahila Khadim, PPP’s Shazia Abid and several other members shared proposals to make more viable the education and health sectors.

Rahila Khadim said the new lawmakers should consider it an opportunity to learn.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2024.