Opposition fails to stop passage of mini-budget

ISLAMABAD: Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021, Money Budget and State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2022 went to the National Assembly on Thursday amid protests and sloganeering by opposition parties.

Immediately after the approval of the mini-budget at 10 pm, Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen also introduced the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021 was by voice vote.

Opposition members also gathered in front of the Speaker’s dice, holding placards in their hands and chanting slogans while looking at Prime Minister Imran Khan. Opposition members shouted that the IMF friends were traitors.

Since it took about five hours to pass the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021, the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed in less than an hour. The Deputy Speaker rejected the demand for counting as he was not satisfied with the voice of majority of opposition members.

The chair continued to reject the amendments before the protesting members could pass them. When Prime Minister Imran Khan entered the house, the opposition chanted anti-government slogans while government members greeted him by banging the desk.