NA begins voting on Rs1.24 trillion grants amid fierce opposition criticism

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday commenced voting on hefty demands for grants worth over Rs1.24 trillion for three federal ministries, triggering a fierce debate between the ruling coalition and the opposition over the country’s law and order situation and alleged political victimisation.

The session, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, opened with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presenting four demands for grants exceeding Rs349 billion for the Interior Division.

In response, the opposition bench, heavily flanked by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), moved 123 cut motions to challenge the allocations, sparking an intense legislative standoff.

Leading the charge, PTI lawmaker Sardar Latif Khosa delivered a blistering critique of the Interior Ministry, questioning the rationale behind increasing its funds despite visible governance and security failures.

“The funds for the Interior Ministry have been increased, but I wish they would actually perform. A state runs on governance, not on bullets,” Khosa told the house.

“Power belongs to the people, and without them, the state is a corpse.”

Khosa took sharp aim at the security apparatus, referencing the controversial use of unmarked Vigo trucks — frequently associated with forced disappearances and political intimidation in Pakistan.

 He noted that even Defense Minister Khawaja Asif had previously criticised their usage.

“Those moving around with entourages of ten Vigo trucks are sucking our blood,” Khosa said.

“If someone faces severe threats, they should hire private security. If things continue like this, the bureaucracy might just send the Defense Minister packing.”

Khosa also lamented the lack of progress in the investigation into a firing incident targeting his son in Lahore, asking mockingly,

“Am I a terrorist now? Is Barrister Gohar a terrorist? Look at the Interior Ministry’s performance.”

He further alleged that the head of the ministry was shifting focuses, noting, “He was given the responsibility of ruining Pakistan cricket, now he is being made deputy prime minister, and next he’ll be made prime minister.”

Government Defends Rule of Law

Rebelling against the opposition’s onslaught, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the government and accused the opposition of political absenteeism and hypocrisy.

Tarar pointed out that the government had provided representation to two opposition members in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, but claimed they had failed to attend recent meetings.

“The criminal law draft is pending in the standing committee. I request PTI to play its role in the committee,” Tarar said.

He said that a key response from the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government was still awaited.

“Sitting out in anger while continuing to enjoy parliamentary privileges is not the rule of law,” Tarar added, dismissing allegations of political engineering regarding jailed PTI leaders.

“The courts handed down the sentences; the government has nothing to do with it.”

PTI Calls for Political Reconciliation

Echoing Khosa’s concerns, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan criticised the Interior Ministry’s track record, stating that the last four years had witnessed a “devaluation of human rights and the worst violations of the law.”

Gohar argued that PTI has always stood for national unity and the rule of law, urging the political elite to move past personal grievances.

“We all need to step out of our personal egos,” Gohar said, highlighting an olive branch extended by veteran politician Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who actively approached the prime minister in the house to shake hands.

“We thought shaking hands would improve matters, but instead, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhary, and other comrades have been sentenced again.”

“The PTI is not against accountability or punishments. We are against punishments handed out in self-manufactured, fabricated cases,” Gohar stated.

“We have said repeatedly: the dust of the May 9 riots must now be allowed to settle. This cycle of political victimization must stop.”

Constituency Grievances Addressed

Aside from macro-political friction, Barrister Gohar raised a localised issue concerning young citizens from the Buner constituency traveling to Malaysia for business, who are reportedly facing severe hurdles regarding their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs).

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq promptly directed the Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry to meet with Gohar to resolve the matter immediately.

The National Assembly is expected to continue its session into the week to vote on the remaining demands for grants amidst the ongoing budget debate.