ISLAMABAD: In a significant political development, three opposition parties in the National Assembly on Thursday decided to adopt a joint strategy during the ongoing budget session to give a tough time to the ruling PML-N, which enjoys more than simple majority in the house.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the representatives of the PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) at the Parliament House.
Talking to Dawn after the meeting, Leader of opposition Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah said there was unanimity in the views of the three opposition parties on the federal budget presented by the government on Wednesday.
Mr Shah presided over the meeting. The PTI was represented by its vice-chairman Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi and information secretary Dr Shireen Mazari and the MQM by the party’s deputy parliamentary leader Rashid Godail.
A senior PPP leader, Mr Shah said the opposition fully realised its responsibilities towards the people and would play a constructive role in parliament.
He said budget had nothing for the poor and the middle class.
He said the meeting had removed apprehensions about disunity in the ranks of opposition parties and expressed the hope that this cooperation would continue even after the budget session.
Mr Shah said the opposition had decided to move cut-motions on eight ministries, including defence, water and power, foreign affairs, petroleum and natural resources, railways and industries and production.
