Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb moved the budget bill in the National Assembly for approval of next fiscal year’s proposals after an opposition walkout.
The opposition staged the walkout following a speech by Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who criticised the government over political and constitutional issues during his address.
However, the National Assembly did not livestream his speech on its social media platforms or broadcast it on television channels. This happened despite Speaker Ayaz Sadiq lifting earlier restrictions on airing opposition speeches.
After the session, Achakzai posted on a Private channeland accused the government of undermining the Constitution. He also said his speech had been “censored” in parliament.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the House after the opposition leader’s remarks. He expressed hope that the US-Iran memorandum of understanding would lead to a long-term agreement.
During his address, he referred to recent talks held in Switzerland, where US and Iranian officials met with Pakistan and Qatar acting as mediators. He said Pakistan played a sincere role in bringing both sides closer.
In addition, the prime minister said technical talks would continue for 60 days. He explained that discussions would cover Iran’s nuclear assets, missiles, and frozen funds.
Furthermore, Shehbaz Sharif said he hoped the process would promote global peace. He also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic role and noted that international media had acknowledged it.
Finally, he mentioned that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian would visit Pakistan. He said the visit would focus on strengthening bilateral ties and improving cooperation between the two countries.
