Nawaz Sharif opts out of budget debate

PML-N supremo decides to not attend the budget session; the request was approved by the NA Secretariat

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) supremo and former PM Nawaz Sharif has decided not to attend the budget session.

On Sunday, the assembly secretariat received and approved his leave request, confirming his absence from the budget debate and approval process.

Nawaz was also notably absent on the day the budget was presented in the National Assembly (NA).

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on June 20, a one-on-one meeting between PM Shehbaz and Bilawal was held at PM's office in Islamabad to discuss concerns regarding the budget.

The meeting took place after tensions within the ruling coalition had heightened over the federal budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, according to sources.

Rifts between the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) deepened on June 12 as the main ally of the PML-N government had only token participation in the NA’s budget session after the ruling party didn’t bother to address PPPP’s reservations about the budget.