Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif delivered his NA speech uninterrupted and without any ruckus following the agreement with treasury benches over session’s code of conduct for the lower house.
For three days the National Assembly session remain plagued by ruckus, hullabaloo as opposition and treasury benches, clashed against each other amid Fy2021-22 discussion on the house floor.
However, government and opposition reached agreement on Thursday (today) aimed at smooth conducting of NA session.
Defence Minister Pervez Khattak accompanied by Fawad Chaudhry – Minister for Information and Broadcasting, held a press conference in Islamabad and announced that both government and opposition parties have agreed on maintaining the decorum of NA and to abstain from creating any kind of ruckus during speeches from either side.
Both government and opposition are responsible for maintaining order in the house. It is our desire that the house functions as per the constitution, said Pervez Khattak.
Meanwhile, Fawad Chaudhry apprised that government has held extensive talks with opposition parties over the matter and party leaderships of both sides will ensure that the session is carried out without any fuss, disturbances.
The ministers’ press briefing was followed by a media talk by PPP’s Raja Pervez Ashraf who revealed that the government has agreed to review the legislation done in haste and in return the Opposition would consider withdrawing the no-confidence motion against Suri.
Shehbaz Sharif’s Speech
In his NA speech, opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif reprimanded government over its poor performance resulting in worsening economic and financial indicators of the country.
Shehbaz Sharif accentuated that 20 million people have been pushed below the poverty line, labourers’ wages have been slashed by 18% during this time period.
Unemployment rate stands at 15%, whereas food prices have been shot up by 30% during the past 36 months.
Furthermore, the opposition leader accused government of targeting political rivals under the guise of accountability.
Shehbaz Sharif criticized government’s federal budget for FY2021-22 terming it as ‘fake’ arguing that the disparity between the rich and poor have significantly increased during PTI’s tenure as the people are now even struggling to make ends meet and feed their families.
National Assembly Pandemonium
The development comes as earlier, members from both treasury and opposition benches were involved in creating a ruckus and using profane, abusive and non-parliamentary language during the speech of Shehbaz Sharif pertaining to Budget 2021-22.
The situation quickly deteriorated almost reaching to the point of an all-out physical brawl on the house floor forcing the security staff a protective circle around the Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif as members hurled books and budget copies at each other.
PTI MNA Maleeka Bokhari along with Asif Kiani, one of the members of security staff were wounded in the NA brawl.
Taking stern action on the commotion on house floor, NA Speaker Asad Qaiser had barred MNAs, including three from his own party PTI over disorderly conduct and interrupting the speech of Shehbaz Sharif leader of the opposition.
However, this ban has since then been revoked upon opposition’s request, and the lawmakers have been allowed to attend NA session.
