Opposition parties form committee to get support from PTI allies against 'anti-masses' budget

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

Opposition parties in the parliament have constituted a special committee to garner support from the government's allies against the passage of the finance bill in the National Assembly.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday said that the committee will woo the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) coalition partners to help block passage of the federal budget 2019-20.

Take a look: Take-home salary to take a hit thanks to new income tax brackets

PPP's Khursheed Shah, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Shazia Marri and Sherry Rehman have been nominated by the party as members of the committee, while the PML-N has nominated Rana Tanvir, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq and Murtaza Javed.

According to Aurangzeb, Shahida Akhtar Ali will represent the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) ─ a coalition of five religious parties including the JUI-F, Jamaat-i-Islami and others ─ while Ameer Haider Hoti will represent the Awami National Party.

The joint opposition, in a recent meeting of the joint parliamentary party, had decided to constitute a committee to contact and convince the PTI-led government's allies against passing what they have described as an 'anti-masses' budget.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Budget20

'We reject the budget': Shahbaz Sharif criticises govt over 'taking dictation' from IMF

MQM to get another ministry

The budget needs ownership

Ali

Jun 20, 2019 07:53pm

A tug of war for personal interests. They all should be ashamed to call this safeguard of the public interests.

Recommend 0

M. Saeed

Jun 20, 2019 08:03pm

Imran must get bold and strong and reject IMF help. A group of small sincere people like Asad Umar can be assigned the task of sitting together and solving the financial problems. I sincerely believe we can solve the financial problem with positive and national approach.

Recommend 0

ahmed

Jun 20, 2019 08:14pm

Opposition Committee has one aim -to bring down PMIK govt and cause chaos in PK. Stop it for the sake of PK. PK cannot survive without taxes. PMIK be firm against this gang.

Recommend 0

Gordon D. Walker

Jun 20, 2019 08:30pm

Democracy in action... Gordon D. Walker Canada

Recommend 0

Behram Sodawala

Jun 20, 2019 08:32pm

It will be a failure, ask them to contribute all the looted money of both these parties first into the Govt Treasury. Simply waste of time by the opposition parties.

Recommend 0

No Ash

Jun 20, 2019 08:48pm

The opposition cronies don’t care about the budget; there are using this to get favourable bargains for their crooked leaders.

Recommend 0

M. Saeed

Jun 20, 2019 08:48pm

Look at the people around Maryam Aurangzeb. Not a single face has any slightest sign of intelligence and possible ways to solve any national problem. Maryam must join hands with the people like Asad Umar and form a strong and sensible team to tackle the issues bewildering the nation..

Recommend 0

Straight talk

Jun 20, 2019 08:53pm

What is the point of all this? To help the people from the mess the opposition put us in? or for them to regain power.

Recommend 0

Ismail Baloch

Jun 20, 2019 09:04pm

Thanks We are with you on this one , opposition coalition.

Recommend 0

Sameer

Jun 20, 2019 09:07pm

PMLN and PPP have done enough damage. When they talk about people, I feel disgusted.

Recommend 0

Naeem

Jun 20, 2019 09:12pm

Can someone please put this lady behind... bars or anything..maybe a box

Recommend 0

Syed Noorani

Jun 20, 2019 09:51pm

We will see it their "anti masses" rhetoric will work in the next election. Pakistanis should resent being called the masses by the two Maryams and by the weathy. I do not know why the do not use the term "the people".

Recommend 0

NACParis

Jun 20, 2019 09:53pm

The moves by both PML-N and PPP are not only to derail the budget but to save both Nawaz and Zardari families together with other cronies who are being brought into the corruption dragnet. These both parties with the help of so called Mualana will destroy Pakistan economy if they are not taken care off through speedy investigation by NAB.

Recommend 0

N Abidi

Jun 21, 2019 12:54am

Please tell Pakistani,the public friendly budget that pmln passed 9 months back ?

Recommend 0

Naeem Qureshi

Jun 21, 2019 02:09am

There is no public interest The only interest is to hide looted billions. Those like Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Safdar Nawaz who live in 2,500 kanal houses have no feeling for the poor of Pakistan

Recommend 0

Bhaijan

Jun 21, 2019 04:36am

Naturally putting fullstop is not good.

Recommend 0

Captain

Jun 21, 2019 06:41am

Previous Govts have totally ruined institutions and didn’t work for their betterment including Financial conditions n export .... now they call themselves as caretakers of poor n poverty ..... shame ...shame ....

Recommend 0

Be honest

Jun 21, 2019 07:05am

A grave dilemma is that opposition political parties in Pakistan never come on one page with the elected governments and have a strong mindset of leg pulling. When you keep scrutinizing the elected government and put a hash tag of bringing down the government, how you can expect the government to perform well. All resources are wasted in blame game and nothing positive comes out of the masses. Why don't all political parties resolve their differences for the sake of the country and vow to punish money launderers to fix the economy. But unfortunately, opposition is defending criminals and want the government to either bow or go.

Recommend 0

Be honest

Jun 21, 2019 07:23am

@Naeem, She is pathetic - a drama queen

Recommend 0

Observer

Jun 21, 2019 07:24am

Suggest brown paper bag to cover her face and then mute the volume.

Recommend 0

Observer

Jun 21, 2019 07:27am

@M. Saeed, which sign of intelligence do you see in her? Some parrots are more intelligent.

Recommend 0

Babar

Jun 21, 2019 08:24am

The spokesperson of PML-N needs to focus more on the damage done due to extensive loans and corruption than otherwise. Pathetic !!!!

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Why SQD-Mini LED is the display breakthrough we’ve been waiting for?

The display industry is entering a new phase, where reducing trade-offs is as important as pushing performance limits.

The Palms at Silk Gardens introduces a new family address in Karachi

The Palms places families at the heart of its vision, offering thoughtfully planned 2 and 3-bedroom units in a secure, peaceful and community-led environment.