The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Khursheed Ahmed Shah, roundly criticised the federal government on Wednesday for its policies, which, he said, are "weakening the federation".

"The prime minister says he learned a lot from his exile, but he seems to have learned nothing," a visibly furious Shah said while addressing an NA session on Wednesday.

Shah also played the ethnic card when he said Sindhis had played a significant role in the creation of Pakistan but were not being treated with consideration.

"The federal government is not willing to promote the people of Sindh and Balochistan," he accused. "How can you run the federation [with such policies]," he added.

Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan continue to face electricity load-shedding, he claimed, while billions of rupees are being spent on Lahore.

"Meanwhile, our people are sleeping on the roads," Shah alleged.

"Only an economy which provides meals and livelihoods to the people is acceptable to us."

The opposition leader also criticised the government for its economic policies.

"The government claims that the economy has strengthened, but the people have been starving," he alleged.

"Petroleum prices have fallen, but their impact has not been passed to the common people," he added.

Shah also highlighted the Panama Papers issue.

Saying that the ordinary people wanted to know the outcome of the case, he termed it a challenge for the judiciary to deliver a solid verdict.

"The entire country is waiting for a decision on the Panama case," Shah said.

He also took the prime minister to task for his absence from the assembly.

"Why are you sick of the Parliament?" he asked.

"The Parliament has only been a stepping stone for you," he further accused, asking why lawmakers should come to the Parliament when the prime minister and his cabinet avoid visiting the house.

Shah later walked out in protest against the federal government.