Tag: Shahbaz Sharif

  • Shehbaz Sharif finally delivers his speech in NA, uninterrupted

    Shehbaz Sharif finally delivers his speech in NA, uninterrupted

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday finally delivered his speech in the Lower House after three days of chaotic behaviour by lawmakers.

    Speaking on the floor of the NA today, the Opposition leader said all of the lawmakers present in the assembly were elected by 220 million Pakistanis and they were responsible for changing the nation’s future for the better.

    There was complete silence in the house during Shehbaz Sharif’s speech, who lashed out at the government and Prime Minister Imran Khan for “ruining lives of Pakistanis”

    He said that in the last three years, many taxes were imposed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government because of which the “poor man’s meals have been halved.” Hunger and hopelessness had been created in the country because of previous budgets, he said, adding that Budget 2021-2022 would further increase inflation and the poor would suffer more, reports Dawn.

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader pointed out that there was a lack of trust among provinces and between the provinces and the federal government, claiming that such differences have never been seen before.

    “If only Punjab progresses and the rest of Pakistan does not, then it is not progress,” stressed Shehbaz.

    Shehbaz also criticised the PTI government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying “the entire Opposition termed Covid as a ‘national emergency’ which [they and the government] would tackle together after setting aside our differences.”

    He recalled that National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser had then called a conference which was also attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan. “We were all [united] on this but the prime minister left after his speech. Was there something more important than Covid?”

    “Can any nation remain alive like this with an atomic bomb on the one hand and a begging bowl on the other?” he asked.

    He stressed that the country would have to generate resources. “If we want to end dictation, then we will have to break the begging bowl.”

    Shehbaz said that while the government should help in setting up langars (soup kitchens), but its “real work” was policy-making and making sure that those who had to go to the soup kitchens were able to stand on their feet.

    “The aim is not to raise an army of beggars but an army of doers and nation builders. If agriculture and industry are destroyed and poverty and unemployment are taken forward, then nations do not progress,” he said. This was the reason that after the latest budget, people were “screaming that their pockets are empty and [asking] how to feed their children”, he added.

    Talking about Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin’s speech in the NA last week, Shehbaz recalled that “the minister said Pakistan was a very successful crop-producing country but in the very next breath he said that Pakistan had become a food importer.”

    Earlier today, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak said the government and the Opposition had come to an agreement to ensure the smooth running of National Assembly sessions.

    Speaking to the media in Islamabad alongside Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Khattak said a “consensus” was reached in a meeting with the Opposition and a proposal was devised, which would be elaborated upon by Qaiser later today.

    The NA was subject to disruption this week amid repeated confrontations between the treasury and Opposition benches during the budget session.

  • Shehbaz Sharif’s third try at budget speech a fail

    Shehbaz Sharif’s third try at budget speech a fail

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the NA session minutes after it started on Wednesday as the treasury members continued their protest for the third consecutive day to disrupt Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif’s budget speech.

    Shehbaz, surrounded by sergeants, tried to deliver his speech amid sloganeering but was cut short.

    Meanwhile, Qaiser repeatedly called on the parliamentarians to be seated but eventually adjourned the session after an object was thrown at the speaker’s dais.

    “I will not conduct this House (NA) until both the government and the Opposition [settle their matters],” said Qaiser before walking out, adjourning the session till tomorrow (Thursday).

    Shehbaz, during his speech, condemned yesterday’s incident and said it was Qaiser’s duty to maintain the sanctity of the House and run it in accordance with the law.

    “I am saddened by your helplessness,” he said, alleging that the behaviour of treasury members had been authorised by Prime Minister Imran Khan himself.

    “It was your duty to stop this,” added Shehbaz.

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar claimed in a tweet that the Opposition had attacked him within minutes when the session started. He added that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Muhammad Akram Cheema was also injured by a bottle thrown at him.

    “Worried by the economic improvement and popular budget, the opposition wants to run away from discussion on the budget in the House by engaging in confrontation,” added Asad.

    Spokesperson for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the Opposition was again insulted by the government benches.

    “They [government] want to attack the parliament and the system. They want to attack the Speaker’s seat,” added Marriyum.

  • No-confidence motion to be moved against NA Speaker Asad Qaiser

    No-confidence motion to be moved against NA Speaker Asad Qaiser

    The Opposition has decided to jointly move a no-confidence motion against National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser, after two days of ruckus in the National Assembly.

    The decision of tabling a no-confidence motion against Qaiser was reached when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto met in the NA earlier today to discuss the way forward after yesterday’s session.

    In this regard, the joint Opposition leaders also agreed to form a committee that would be tasked with tabling the motion. However, the names of its members are under consideration.

    The Opposition members said that Tuesday’s session was the darkest day in the history of democracy, with the Speaker failing to fulfil his constitutional, legal, democratic, and parliamentary responsibilities.

    “Asad Qaiser is not qualified to fulfill this duty,” said one of the Opposition members.

    The Opposition demanded that a parliamentary committee be established with equal representation from treasury and Opposition benches to probe the ruckus that had transpired in parliament.

  • Seven lawmakers banned from entering National Assembly

    Seven lawmakers banned from entering National Assembly

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser has banned the entry of seven lawmakers into the Parliament House over the use of foul language during the budget speech of Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif.

    The order released by Asad Qaiser stated that, on June 14 and 15, 2021 during the speech of Shehbaz on Budget 2021-22, “the conduct of seven lawmakers was grossly disorderly as they violated the rules despite repeated direction of the Chair, they interrupted proceedings of the House.”

    The seven lawmakers are Ali Gohar Khan Baloch (PML-N), Chaudhry Hamid Hameed (PML-N), Sheikh Rohale Asghar (PML-N), Faheem Khan (PTI), Abdul Majeed Khan (PTI), Ali Nawaz Awan (PTI), and Syed Agha Rafiullah (PPP).

    “These members are required not to enter into the precincts of the Parliament House till further orders,” said the notification.

    Asad Qaiser also said that the “non-parliamentary attitude adopted by members from the government and the Opposition benches and objectionable language used by them is condemnable and disappointing”.

  • PTI’s Maleeka Bokhari gets injured during a scuffle in NA

    PTI’s Maleeka Bokhari gets injured during a scuffle in NA

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Maleeka Bokhari was injured when the National Assembly (NA) turned into complete mayhem as Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif addressed the lower house.

    In a press conference on Wednesday, Maleeka said, ” The people have elected us. We are equally part of the democracy as you are.”

    “Accept this position and do not consider throwing shoes from the other side of the aisle. Do not use abusive language for the members of parliament,” added Maleeka, criticising the Opposition.

    “You [ Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] do not differentiate between a man and a woman. All you see is he/she is a member of PTI, and you attack them,” said Maleeka.

    In a video shared by State Minister for Information Farrukh Habib on Tuesday, the PTI lawmaker Bokhari can be seen getting treatment for her injured eye.

    The NA proceedings witnessed violent scenes when parliamentarians were seen creating a ruckus, using filthy language, whistling, and attacking each other with budget books during and after the speech of Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif.

    One of the members from the treasury benches threw a book towards Shehbaz, which fell on the dais in front of him. PTI and PML-N members then came close to a physical brawl in front of the NA Speaker’s chair, but he could do anything requesting parliamentarians to behave and later adjourning the house.

  • VIDEO: Govt, Opposition hurl abuses at each other

    VIDEO: Govt, Opposition hurl abuses at each other

    The National Assembly on Tuesday was complete mayhem as Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif addressed the lower house.

    Moments after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president started speaking, he was greeted with loud slogans and whistles from the treasury benches.

    Shehbaz continued his speech and questioned, “Imran Khan Niazi promised 10 million jobs. Where are those jobs?”

    “Where are the $300bn that was supposed to be brought back to the country from abroad?”

    Sharif said that PM Imran Khan’s claims of eliminating corruption from Pakistan were hollow.

    He criticised the budget, saying that it had failed to provide relief to the masses amid spiraling unemployment and inflation.

    Speaker Asad Qaiser kept interjecting, requesting lawmakers on the treasury benches to refrain from shouting while the Leader of the Opposition spoke.

    Amidst the chaos, members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government were seen hurling books at the Opposition and vice versa.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Ali Nawaz Awan can be seen in one video clip responding to abusive language by a PML-N lawmaker with expletives.

    A woman lawmaker tried to pull the PTI MNA away from the group of legislators who were shoving each other. He can be seen in the video throwing a booklet at the PML-N leader and shouting angrily at him.

    Twitterati condemned the chaos in parliament.

  • FIA summons Shehbaz Sharif in sugar scam inquiry

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday summoned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif for questioning in connection with its ongoing probe into the sugar scam.

    Shehbaz Sharif has been asked to turn up at the FIA Lahore office on June 22, reports ARY News.

    The subpoena served to Shehbaz warned him of legal action, including his possible arrest, in case he fails to show up before the FIA. He is required to bring all the relevant documents along with him besides his replies to four questions the probe team has asked him.

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Shehbaz Sharif from outside the Lahore High Court (LHC) in a money-laundering case last year in September. He was recently granted bail on April 22, 2021.

  • ‘A budget that will make everyone happy’: PM Khan

    ‘A budget that will make everyone happy’: PM Khan

     Prime Minister Imran Khan hosted lunch for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians and the government’s coalition partners today, where important issues relating to the country’s political scenario and the budget were discussed, as reported by Geo News. 

     The premier was asked whether the budget, which will be presented later in the day, will be a “people-friendly” one.

    “Today, everyone will be happy,” said PM Khan in response. 

    The Opposition is holding a meeting of its parliamentary members, which started at 3:00pm. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif will chair the meeting, which will also include participants from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).  

  • What does PM Khan regret?

    What does PM Khan regret?

    Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed on Sunday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan regrets that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was able to escape from the grip of the law by leaving Pakistan for London.

    He said that Nawaz deceived the government and went abroad using “fake medical reports” and the prime minister has great sorrow over this.

    The government stopped Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif from going abroad and later placed his name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

    Sheikh Rasheed said a person whose name was included in the ECL could challenge the decision in 15 days but Shehbaz Sharif did not challenge the Interior Ministry’s decision.

    Rasheed went on to say that PM Imran Khan was lucky to have such an “incompetent” and “sluggish” Opposition.

    He further added that the entire Jahangir Tareen group will support the upcoming budget.

  • ‘Raiwand’s prime minister’ sent abroad despite conviction: Bilawal

    ‘Raiwand’s prime minister’ sent abroad despite conviction: Bilawal

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Friday, said, “Raiwand’s prime minister” Nawaz Sharif was sent abroad despite being convicted.

    Bilawal said former president Asif Ali Zardari remains in Pakistan, moving from one doctor to another, despite his children telling him to go abroad and seek treatment.

    “If the president [Zardari] is from Nawabshah, he remains on medical bail despite trumped-up charges,” said chairman PPP.

    “I want to ask the prime minister (PM) what sort of accountability and justice is being implemented in the country? I want to ask the PM what kind of rule of law is there within the country?” Bilawal asked, adding that if the premier’s friends are being alleged of a crime, no action is taken against them.

    “This is revenge and political engineering and their ministers themselves accept it has hurt the economy,” added Bilawal.

    “If the prime minister and his sister are blamed for a crime, nothing happens to them,” Bilawal lashed out.

    However, if a former president from Nawabshah’s sister is blamed for something, then she is dragged to jail from her hospital bed, he said, referring to PPP leader Faryal Talpur.

    The PPP chairman denigrated the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and questioned its standards of accountability. “This system is a mockery of the Constitution,” said Bilawal.

    “If the Leader of Opposition is from Lahore (Shehbaz Sharif), he is awarded bail, and if the leader of Opposition hails from Sukkur (Khursheed Shah), he is denied the right and treated like a ping-pong ball — back and forth from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) courts to Supreme Court,” Bilawal said.

    The PPP chairman claimed the authorities were repeatedly blackmailing Shah’s children and his wife.

    Bilawal further said that the party would support Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly on the budget despite the inappropriate behaviour of some Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members.

    “I unconditionally say to Shehbaz Sharif in front of the media that all PPP members will be in your support with regards to parliament and this [upcoming] budget despite tantrums [of some PML-N members].”

    He said that PPP members would come and vote on the day of the budget and now it was up to Shehbaz as the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly to “do his work and stop the government’s budget.”

    Bilawal was responding to a question on whether the PPP had been contacted on the budget issue and whether it would support the Opposition. He responded that despite the “inappropriate behaviour” of the PML-N and other political parties in the Opposition, the PPP had prioritised national issues and the budget over differences between the political parties.

    “So despite their insults, the PPP went to Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation for dinner so we can rid the people of economic difficulties. Unfortunately, our host was publicly insulted after that dinner by some officeholders of the PML-N,” said Bilawal, adding that flinging statements at guests was not a part of “our tradition, values, and culture”.

    The PPP chairman also lashed out at the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), saying it should have offered resignations the same day or the next when the PPP had “supposedly” refused to listen to its demands and set out for its long march.

    “If they still want to do politics of resignations, then they should have given them by now.”

    Hitting out at the prime minister, the PPP chairman said that the statements since the past few weeks on the state of the economy showed that the “prime minister has no connection to the common man”.

    “The prime minister says Pakistan’s difficult time is over. Not sure about the common man but the IMF’s (International Monetary Fund) difficult time is over, for sure,” he said.

    Bilawal Bhutto said the government’s ministers had come around to accept the PPP’s stance on the economy and expressed the hope that Pakistan would escape the “IMF’s grip” in the budget next week.

    Bilawal similarly hit out at an ordinance for the creation of a new media body and said the PPP would continue to oppose it. He added that the recent attacks on journalists such as Asad Ali Toor or pressure being applied to media personnel such as Hamid Mir through petitions had “exposed the government’s weakness and insecurity”.