BUDGET 2026-27: Budget debate nearly devolves into fisticuffs

• Finance minister set to deliver winding-up speech today, cut motions to follow
• Spats between ruling, opposition lawmakers degenerate into name-calling
• PPP defends BISP allocations, demands more funds for agriculture

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is set to deliver the winding-up speech in the lower house as the general debate on the federal budget is expected to be finished today (Thursday), in line with its pre-set 40-hour duration.

The NA sitting continued even after 9pm on Wednesday amid multiple unpleasant incidents, with lawmakers almost coming to blows in the house, and the session will resume in the morning today. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who is likely to attend today’s sitting, is also expected to speak.

The 40-hour limit for discussion was set by the House Business Advisory Committee, and each party is allocated speech time as per their seats in house. After the general debate is wound up, ‘cut motions’ will follow. One day each is allocated for the passage of the finance bill and the supplementary grants in the outgoing fiscal year.

As per the tentative schedule prepared by the National Assembly Secretariat, the general discussion was scheduled till June 19, but it was cut short by two days to wrap up the budget by June 24 before the Ashura holidays.

‘Short of brawl’

The session commenced with a heated debate just short of a brawl between Food Minister Rana Tanvir and PTI leader Amir Dogar. During his speech, Dogar made derogatory comments towards the ruling party lawmaker with a smirk. This prompted a harsh response from Tanvir, who said, “I even knew your father — I know who you people are.” His statement invited the ire of other PTI members and Atif Khan even moved towards Rana Tanvir — criticising the minister for involving families in the political debate.

The situation escalated, as both sides used “harsh language”. The speaker asked State Minister for Interior Senator Tallal Chaudhary, who was present in the house, to ease the situation. Eventually, the food minister made a lengthy speech on the agriculture policy of the incumbent government, while acknowledging that it was a devolved subject.

During the proceedings, PTI leader Asad Qaiser requested to respond to the remarks made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who, a day earlier, stated that officials of the intelligence agency used to guide them during meetings held at the residence of Asad Qaiser when he was the NA speaker. Asad Qaiser said, “ If Khawaja Asif feels guilty over taking input from the ISI in meetings regarding FATF, held at the speaker’s house, what would he say about the election results and the presentation of the IMF budget now?”

PPP leaders, including Shazia Marri, Naz Baloch, Dr Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto, defended the BISP allocations and demanded more allocations for the agriculture sector.

In her speech, Marri also slammed the speculations surrounding the possible 28th Amendment, terming them a move to pressurise party leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari into conceding provinces’ rights. All PPP members defended devolution but criticised the federal budget for limited allocations to sectors already devolved to the provinces, such as agriculture, education, health etc.

Afternoon pandemonium

The members were visibly sleepy after 2pm when the house witnessed another pandemonium. PML-N’s Azhar Qayyum Nahra lashed out at the PTI members for being “losers and cowards”. “You demand treatment for Imran Khan – what more treatment do you want? We are already treating him as he deserves.” His comment infuriated the PTI members, who started calling him ‘a fake MNA’. Shafqat Awan even moved towards Nahra and used abusive words at least three times. To ease the tension, Nahra was asked by the speaker to finish his speech.

Subsequently, the mic was given to PTI’s Zain Qureshi, but the PML-N lawmakers, mainly women, demanded an apology from Awan for using abusive language. PML-N member Shumaila Rana did not allow Mr Qureshi to speak, after which PPP’s Amer Ali Magsi got the mic. After several speakers, Qureshi finally got his turn.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2026 ...