ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari yesterday alleged that the budget was passed illegally by the government. Speaking at a news conference here, Bilawal said he had written a letter to Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser in this regard.

“The Speaker robbed the members of their votes today. What has happened in the National Assembly today is a bad tradition,” he said. 

Each member, he said, had the right to represent his or her constituency. “The Speaker verbally approves the bill to the National Assembly and if a member challenges, the speaker must take notice of it. Today, when I challenged a voice vote on an important occasion the speaker violated the rules of the speaker and deprived me of my right. It is sad to say that the Speaker has violated the sanctity of Parliament,” he added. 

Bilawal said the budget approval was unconstitutional and illegal. “I have written a letter to the Speaker on this. If this mistake is not rectified, this budget will be illegal. This budget of this government is morally unconstitutional. We will take up this issue from Kashmir to Karachi,” he remarked.

The PPP Chairman said that the PPP members were all present in the National Assembly. “I am responsible for my own party. If political resistance does not come now, when will it come? We will raise the issue of incomplete number of opposition before Shahbaz Sharif,” he said.

The PPP Chairman said that the Speaker of the National Assembly has convened a meeting of the National Security Committee at his request. 

The PPP chief said he will attend this meeting himself, and will put his suggestions to the government. “In the past, we have always had the wrong policies towards Afghanistan. We have to learn from the mistakes of the past, otherwise the common man will have to suffer the consequences,” he added.

The PPP chief demanded that the assets of the National Accountability Bureau chairman should be made public. “The assets of every NAB officer should be brought to light. Chairman NAB should voluntarily put the assets before the nation from the day of his appointment till date otherwise we will bring legislation,” he maintained.

Bilawal said that he hopes that all agencies responsible for national security will attend the committee meeting. “We need to have a realistic policy on Afghanistan. Our Foreign Office has to play the right role. Our diplomatic campaign is not up to the mark on this issue. Success comes from solving problems, not spending less money visiting the United States. Our Prime Minister is being insulted all over the world. To date, President Biden has not spoken to him,” he added.