The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has rejected the federal budget and voiced strong reservations over the Punjab government's alleged disregard of the party in the budget-making process, sparking a war of words between PPP's Hassan Murtaza and Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari.
Speaking at a press conference at the PPP Model Town Secretariat, Hassan Murtaza, General Secretary of PPP Central Punjab, said the party was neither consulted nor were its suggestions included in the budget.
"The people will receive no relief from either the federal or the expected Punjab budget," he said, criticising the government's economic policies and claiming that the region's peace was being threatened by a 'Modi-style' mind-set.
Murtaza also used the occasion to launch a scathing critique of international powers, particularly the US and Israel, and questioned the credibility of global institutions like the United Nations.
"The Muslim Ummah is being forced to recite verses of jihad; this is the same strategy Modi used against Pakistan," he said, adding that Pakistan must strengthen its economy as much as its defense.
He lambasted the imposition of heavy taxes on agriculture, calling it a death knell for farmers. "From petrol to fertilisers and seeds, everything has been taxed. And yet, wheat is being sold cheap while sugarcane is purchased on credit and sugar is sold in cash," he said.
Murtaza accused the Punjab government of operating a sugar mill mafia and claimed that rose water worth Rs320 million was sprayed on Lahore's roads while basic facilities remained unavailable to the poor.
He also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for allegedly misusing public funds for personal branding. "Maryam Nawaz is so obsessed with self-promotion that even dustbins carry her picture. But she can't include the Prime Minister, her own uncle, in those images," he said.
Hitting back at the provincial government's performance, he said it had failed to deliver during its 16-month tenure. "If you're putting your face on dustbins, then own up to the inflation too," he remarked. He also condemned the recent imposition of 18% tax on solar panels and said future taxes on essentials like oxygen would be the logical next step if such policies continued.
Murtaza criticised the 10% salary hike for government employees, terming it insufficient and demanded a 50% increase instead.
He also denounced what he called the humiliation of medical professionals and accused the government of pushing various departments to protest at Charing Cross rather than enabling them to serve in offices.
While reiterating the PPP's commitment to institutional reform, Murtaza said his party was ready to work with the government to fix the system but would not support exploitative policies.
He also opposed the proposed advertising bill and urged Pakistan to align itself more strongly with neighbouring Iran.
In a sharp rebuttal, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari dismissed Murtaza's remarks, saying, "A person who couldn't even win his own seat shouldn't be lecturing us." She claimed that in private gatherings, even Murtaza admitted that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's governance was the real reason PPP lost ground in Punjab.
"Maryam Nawaz is not just making promises, she is fulfilling them. She's delivering real relief to people and translating dreams into reality," Bukhari said. Referring to Murtaza's recent visit to Sambrial, she said he had witnessed the government's work firsthand.
Bukhari further slammed the PPP leader for rejecting a budget that hadn't even been presented. "This shows the state of your political judgment," she added. She emphasised that governments with vision can show results even in 16 months, while those lacking direction fail even after 16 years.
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