Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Opposition lawmakers on Monday staged walkout from the National Assembly over government’s refusal to telecast opposition leader’s budget speech live on the state-run television channel.

The opposition was of the view that the government had already presented its point of view through budget speech of the finance minister and now it was opposition’s turn to express itself on the proposed budget. “In democracy, everyone is given equal opportunity to present his point of view in front of the masses. “Government has already claimed that it has presented a people-friendly budget then why is it afraid of the opposition speeches telecast live on the PTV,” they asked.

Opposition Leader in National Assembly Khurshid Shah and PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi strongly resisted government’s refusal to allow their speeches telecast live on the PTV. They were of the view that next year was the election year and like government, opposition too wanted to express its views on the budget before the nation through PTV. “Level playing field should be provided to everyone, including opposition parties,” Khurshid Shad said, and warned the government that there was no need to make speeches inside the House if live coverage was not allowed to the opposition members. To speaker’s reply that such opportunity was not provided in the past and even during the PPP five-year tenure, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, “Let’s begin this tradition from PML-N’s tenure.”

Opposition Leader announced walkout from the House when government refused to move from its stance. Federal Minister Sheikh Aftab went behind the opposition members but failed to bring them back. In the meantime, PPP woman legislator Shazia Marri came to the House and pointed out the quorum. After the counting, the speaker announced that the House was in order and told treasury benches to begin speeches over the budget.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting apprised the National Assembly that there was no tradition to telecast live speech of leader of the opposition and other members except the budget speech of the finance minister during the budget session.

Responding to a point raised by Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah, the minister said no speech was broadcast live since 2008. She said that full package of the opposition leader’s speech would be telecast on PTV News, PTV National and PTV Global later in the evening.

The minister said she had great respect for the leader of the opposition and no effort was being made to stop his speech. However, she said even last year the budget speeches were not telecast live.

The minister said as per routine, the national television had been following a proper plan and timetable and sudden change by telecasting the parliamentary leaders’ speeches would disturb all its schedule and interrupt its commercials.

PML-N legislator Sheza Mansab said presenting of fifth consecutive budget was a great achievement for a democratic government. She termed the budget people-friendly. She claimed that foreign investors were eager to invest in Pakistan due to prudent economic policies of the government.

Mehmood Bashir Virk asked the opposition to join hands with the government and strengthen the economic condition of the country.

JUI-F leader Naeema Kishawar was of the view that the budget focused on interest-related business activities in the country. She advised the government to get rid of the interest and work for development of the economy. She regretted that the PML-N government could not allocate funds for the women lawmakers for development works in their constituencies.

As soon as PPP lawmaker Dr Nafeesa Shah entered the House to point out lack of quorum, Deputy Speaker Javed Abbasi adjourned the House till today (Tuesday).