ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader Syed Khurshid Shah has said in National Assembly (NA) that ministers are not serious in budget debate as the front row of treasury members smacks of lack of interest of government in budget session.
He said that earlier budget was presented in NA through a process which runs contrary to the constitution and now no one is ready to come here. Why the ministers don’t come here.
He held government should demonstrate responsibility. We are promoting what culture. Only 18 treasury members and 20 opposition members are present in the house at present. If the members don’t wake up early in the morning then let us set some appropriate time for debate on budget.
Voice sounded from back benches that time be fixed after meal.
Jamaat-e- Islami (JI) Parliamentary leader Sahibzada Tariq Ullah said it is good omen that a government is presenting 6th budget persistently.
He held that it was repeatedly said from opposition that 4 months budget rather than the whole year budget be presented but this was not considered by the government.
He said that presenting budget by an unelected advisor was not correct morally. “We raised voice over it. We could do nothing due to numerical superiority of the government.
Intransigence shown by the government despite raising of objections by three provinces in the meeting of National Economic Council is injustice, he stated.
He regretted that modus operandi has been introduced for collecting taxes from the poor people but no methodology has been laid down for recovery of taxes from the billionaires.
Dr Azra Afzal said presenting budget by an unelected person is insult of the parliament. The government has failed to achieve development targets.
Federal minister Riaz Pirzada said we as parliamentarians have overall failed. Presenting budget is government domain but opposition should remain present in the house to raise objection over it. Targeting government is not correct.
Speaking on a point of order PPP MNA Ejaz Jakhrani said wrong rumors are being spread on removal of Dr Abdul Salam name from centre of physics in Quaid-e-Azam University.