Azma hails Punjab budget, criticises opposition

LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari, while addressing the assembly members in the Punjab Assembly Saturday, paid tribute to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman for presenting a tax-free budget.

She noted that presenting such a balanced budget within a limited timeframe was only possible due to the experience of the government. The budget has provided relief to the inflation-stricken public through more than 100 projects.

The Punjab government has reduced inflation in its first 100 days, with prices reduced by up to 50 percent and bread availability at 12 rupees. The common man is grateful to the government for reducing inflation in the province.

The minister highlighted that the speaker of the Punjab Assembly is committed to democratic principles by collaborating with the opposition parties. Azma Bokhari, responding to unwarranted criticism from the opposition, reiterated that the government’s silence should not be deemed a weakness. She said that if the opposition parties show due respect to the government, they will be reciprocated in kind.”When the leader of the house cannot speak freely, the opposition members cannot be allowed to speak freely as well,” she emphasised.

Bokhari noted that the opposition’s accusations hold no weight and reminded them that respect begets respect. She insisted that the opposition should not lecture the government on democracy, asserting that while the opposition comprises 103 members, the government comprises 218 members. She described the opposition members as inept and inefficient, mentioning that they unanimously approved the May 9 resolution.”We will take the opposition to its logical end,” she declared.

Bokhari recalled that Nawaz Sharif’s decision not to take a salary was not a personal matter while refusing to bring up one’s daughter is. She mentioned that Nawaz Sharif was sent to Attock Fort, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death, and other political leaders were imprisoned, highlighting a fabricated helicopter case against Nawaz Sharif.She accused the PTI of committing the May 9 incident and labelled anyone who supports terrorism under the guise of politics as a terrorist. Comparing the Taliban infiltrating GHQ to the PTI invading GHQ, she underscored that the PTI leader had committed watch theft, and his workers stole tomatoes and potatoes.

She pointed to Ijaz Chaudhry’s leaked audio discussing vandalising and burning public property, noting he is the PTI president in Punjab. Bokhari dismissed PTI’s claims that the army was behind the May 9 events, citing available CCTV footage to negate their allegations.She criticised the PTI for showing no remorse or guilt for the May 9 riots and affirmed that those who commit terrorism under the guise of a political party will be treated as terrorists.

She mentioned that Imran Niazi has been provided facilities in jail, with Nawaz Sharif even directing the installation of two air conditioners instead of one.Expressing sympathies with the opposition parties, Bokhari acknowledged that suspending them was not a good decision but justified it by saying, “We have only shown a trailer to the opposition parties; the movie has yet to be seen by them.”