Addressing national assembly Khursheed Shah rejects annual budget as unconstitutional

The leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah while criticizing the appointment of Miftah Ismail as Finance Minister, said his party rejects the budget as unconstitutional.

He was speaking on the floor of the National Assembly after the debate on the federal budget for the next fiscal year was opened Wednesday.

Syed Khursheed Shah said the country is facing huge problems due to rising population and declining natural resources. He said proper policies have not been devised to overcome the problems being faced by the populace.

Opposition Leader said the government took huge loans and put an additional burden on the masses of the country. Syed Khursheed Shah said parliament is a supreme institution and its sanctity should be upheld by all. He said it is need of the hour that all politicians make unanimous decisions on issues of national importance.

He said the government has to pay 14 percent interest on circular debt each year which could not be managed over the course of last five years. He said the budget deficit is widening. In 2013, debt to GDP ratio was 60 percent which is now close to 70 percent and above the legal ratio allowed by the parliament through legislation, he added.

Syed Khursheed Shah said government claimed to give 184 billion rupees relief to the people but on the other hand, it put a burden of four hundred billion rupees in petroleum levy and other taxes.

The House unanimously passed a resolution against abusive language used by some Ministers for PTI women.

Speaking on the issue, MNA Shireen Mazari of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf said remarks by some politicians against PTI women are deplorable and such things do not suit opinion leaders.

Shazia Murree of PPP said the problem is of mindset. The women are being under-estimated. She condemned the remarks against women. 

MNA Tahira Aurangzeb of PML-N said Islam gives high value to respect and dignity of women. She said Chief Minister Punjab apologized for remarks made by a provincial minister.

Ayesha Syed of Jamat-e-Islami said the stature of women is high in our society and we should avoid targeting them in our political statements.

Shahida Akhtar of JUI-F said the woman is respectable in every role and her degradation should be condemned.