Uproar in PA over provincial budget 2025-26
The discussion on the provincial budget for 2025-26 commenced in the Sindh Assembly on Monday with several members from government as well as opposition benches voicing contrasting views.
The session, with Deputy Speaker Naveed Anthony in the chair, saw mixed reaction as government members hailed the budget as a people-centric, while opposition members termed it as anti-poor and away from ground realities.
Opening the debate, MQM-P's Jamal Ahmed Khan highlighted the problems in his constituency, saying that people in North Nazimabad were struggling for water. He said, the solid waste management system was dysfunctional, and trash remained uncollected for three days, negates city mayor's commitment of cleaning all areas and roads. Jamal questioned, which roads and areas he is talking about?
PPP's Shazia Karim accused the federal government of discriminatory treatment towards Sindh. She criticised the exclusion of key projects including the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway and the K-IV water project. She questioned, "Is Sindh a slave to the federation?"
PPP's Ijaz Shah Bukhari said the people had not forgotten the days of bodies found in gunny bags in Karachi, asserting that the PPP had always stood by the public. He criticised the federal government's neglectful attitude toward Sindh, pointing out the ongoing 16-hour power outages in the province.
He called for upgrading the Tando Muhammad Khan Hospital to the district level, increasing its budget, and providing a fire brigade for the local municipal committee.
MQM-P's Abdullah Sheikh warned against maligning the Mohajir community through 'baseless allegations', while raising pointed questions about Zulfiqar Mirza from the gang war era.
He mentioned an incident in Surjani Town where one person lost his life after receiving an extortion note.
PPP's Maliha Manzoor defended saying, the budget was people-friendly. "Women flood victims will receive property rights. Pink buses are already operating in Karachi, and we plan to introduce EV taxis and scooters," she said.
MQM-P's Farah Sohail slammed the budget as anti-people, saying the Sindh government continued the 17-year trend of ignoring public needs.
She question, where the PPP's 'Roti, Kapra aur Makaan' has gone. She claimed that development funds were slashed and projects left uninitiated.
She also criticised the government's health sector performance, pointing out that an assembly member was set to receive Rs70 million in public funds for medical treatment abroad. Ijaz Haq of MQM-P criticised the lack of budget allocations for Orangi Town and the continued neglect of the Qatar Hospital trauma centre.
PPP's Nuzhat Pathan said, despite the federal government's neglect, Sindh has managed to present a better budget.
PPP's MPA Farzana Baloch raised the issue of K-Electric's overbilling and its impact on Karachi's residents. "Those who pay are punished, while defaulters go unchecked," she remarked. PTI's Muhammad Owais condemned the recent arrests of party workers and MPAs, including former opposition leaders, during a youth wing rally. He criticised the PPP for ignoring opposition recommendations in the budget and failing to manage K-Electric's performance.
MQM-P's Adil Askari accused Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah of nepotism and objected to the appointment of his brother-in-law as chief secretary which is against the principles of good governance. His comments drew strong backlash from PPP members. His remarks angered PPP members, leading to an uproar in the House.
PPP MPA, Mukesh Chawla strongly objected to the speech and demanded that the chief minister's name be removed from the record, calling the statement 'unnecessary and inflammatory'. Following the objections, members from both parties stood up and exchanged harsh words, further escalating the tension. The session descended into chaos, prompting the acting speaker to intervene.
The acting speaker urged the lawmakers, saying, "Please refrain from directly addressing each other. Maintain the dignity of the House." The situation intensified further when another MQM-P member addressed PPP's Farooq Awan, saying, "If, as you say, the MQM founder was a devil, you were probably an inspector in the Sindh Police back then. If you had the courage, you should have spoken up at the time. Now that his politics are over, there's no point in cursing him."
Following the debate, the Assembly was adjourned until 10am on Tuesday. The debate is expected to continue over the next several days.