Opposition PartiesBoycott Sindh Budget Session Over Unilateral Presentation

In Karachi, opposition parties from the Sindh Assembly boycotted the budget session on Wednesday, staging a vigorous protest and accusing the government of excluding them by presenting the budget without prior consultation.

Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah requested the presentation of the 2026‑2027 budget statement, prompting members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement‑Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek‑i‑Insaf and Jamaat‑i‑Islam to raise placards and chant slogans against the provincial administration.

The speaker attempted to quell the dissent, noting that the opposition leader could speak in the house to register the protest, and asked, “Who wishes to speak on this matter?” while the opposition members persisted with their demonstration.

Muttahida, PTI and Jamaat lawmakers say they will continue their protest during budget debate

Khurshidi asserted that the protest constituted a legitimate democratic right of the opposition.

He declared, “Do as you please — we will act as we choose. This is a democratic dictatorship. We are boycotting it,” and subsequently exited the chamber accompanied by several party members.

Nevertheless, several MQM‑P members, together with PTI and JI representatives, remained and assembled before the podium, raising slogans directed at the government.

Consequently, the opposition leader approached the protesting members, apparently seeking to convince them to withdraw.

Meanwhile, the chief minister commenced his address amid the commotion.

Following ten minutes of discussion, all opposition members departed the chamber, shouting the slogan “Kala budget namanzoor.”

Later, during a joint press briefing on the assembly grounds, the opposition parties collectively rejected the new fiscal year’s budget, describing it as “jugglery of words” and “anti‑people.”

They announced their intention to continue protesting throughout the budget debate and to raise public concerns at every available forum.

Opposition Leader Khurshidi, PTI parliamentary party leader Shabbir Qureshi, and JI parliamentary leader Muhammad Farooq addressed the gathering.

Khurshidi described the provincial government’s policy as “stubborn and authoritarian,” noting that the budget omitted representation for urban Sindh and appeared to serve a specific social class.

“We have rejected this budget,” he added, “and under the established rules, no pre‑budget session was convened.”

The opposition leader declared that the united opposition was protesting and would do so at every forum and in every possible manner, emphasizing that the protest opposed the authoritarian attitude and the destruction affecting both rural and urban Sindh.

Khurshidi stated that the opposition parties were united around a common agenda, adding, “The struggle has only just begun; let’s see what unfolds next.”

MQM‑P parliamentary party leader Iftikhar Alam asserted that the budget was being rejected because of the government’s “authoritarian conduct.”

He said, “Sindh is bleeding; education and health facilities are inadequate, and Karachi has been completely ignored. This is not a people‑friendly budget.”

JI’s Muhammad Farooq said the opposition was championing Karachi and the province, asking, “Karachi accounts for 95 % of the budget; should we continue to pay them taxes?”

The JI member asserted that the budget benefited the elite and the corruption industry, stating, “The federation is also not serious about Karachi,” and vowed that the JI would persist in registering its protest.

The opposition leaders declared that all parties would continue their protests.

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