Opposition parties are expected to hold a crucial meeting today (Monday) in the Parliament House to discuss a range of issues, including mini-budget, anti-government protests and the overall political situation of the country.
According to reports, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif would chair the meeting just before the National Assembly session, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also be there, along with the parliamentary leaders of all opposition parties.
The meeting is expected to begin at 3pm, in which the opposition parties would formulate a strategy to give the government a tough time in the House.
It may be mentioned here that the federal government decided to summon the National Assembly session today to get the Finance Amendment Bill, 2021, sail through the Lower House.
Detailing the passage of the bill, Adviser to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said that the National Assembly session had been scheduled for 4pm. He said that the finance bill would be tabled during the session, while suggestions coming from the Upper House on the bill could also be discussed.
He also invited the opposition to take part in the legislation process, adding that indulging in sloganeering would not help the opposition in improving the legislative process, nor could that help create hurdles in the way of the bill’s passage. “Our doors are open for talks with the opposition on the legislation process,” he said.
Also, the PPP reportedly decided to hold a token hunger strike outside the Parliament House against the mini-budget. According to reports, the decision to observe a token hunger strike was made in a party meeting chaired by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
The party would hold the token strike inside and outside the parliament, while the PPP chief is also expected to join his party leaders. All PPP lawmakers have reportedly been directed by the party leadership to reach Islamabad to participate in the hunger strike against the mini-budget.
