Opposition evolving joint strategy for opposing budget

ISLAMABAD: The opposition groups in National Assembly have decided to work in both houses of parliament in complete harmony to oppose the upcoming budget if its proposals don’t offer any relief to common man.

The office of opposition leader in the National Assembly and president Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Shahbaz Sharif has established contact with all the opposition and independent groups of the two houses for developing an understanding before the commencement of the budget session of the parliament tomorrow (Monday). Well-placed parliamentary sources told The News here Saturday that joint parliamentary meeting of all the opposition and independent members of the National Assembly will meet on the day the budget is tabled.

The government plans to present the budget on June 11 when the leader of house prime minister Imran Khan is also likely to attend the session. It would be first occasion when all opposition members of the NA will be sitting together. According to sources, Mohsin Dawar who is Pukhtoon leader of erstwhile federally administered tribal areas (FATA) and sits with four-member independent group, would also be siding with the opposition. The session will starts from Monday.

According to sources, Leader of Opposition in NA Shahbaz Sharif will hold a meeting with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during the NA session before the presentation of the budget. The parliamentary group leaders of the opposition including Ahsan Iqbal (PML-N), Syed Naveed Qamar (PPP), Maulana Asad Mahmood ( MMAP/JUI-F), Sardar Muhammad Akhtar Mengal (BNP), Amir Haider Khan Hoti (ANP), Mohsin Dawar (PTM) independent will put their heads together for evolving a strategy. Former Prime Ministers Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Raja Pervez Ashraf will also join in the deliberations. Likewise leader of the opposition in Senate former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and leader of independent group Senator Azam Nazir Tarrar will hold separate meetings to develop course of action in the upper house of parliament.