ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly proceedings Wednesday remained gripped by rowdiness of the opposition members as Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh winded up the eight-day long discussion on the federal budget 2012-13.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members reached the House shouting slogans as members from the coalition parties were extending their proposals to improve the budget.
The opposition members gathered in front of the Speaker's dais and raised anti-government slogans and 'No to budget'.
However, their sound pitch surged immediately as Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza called finance minister for winding up speech.
They moved closer to Shaikh's seat, blocked his view and raised slogans despite Speaker's rulings to observe the decorum.
She also named Shakeel Awan, one of the most active protestors to maintain the decorum but in vain.
The protest is the continuation of the PML-N's protest started since after the Supreme Court convicted Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that led the opposition to demand his resignation.
In course of the protest, the party tried its utmost to disrupt the proceedings either by sloganeering or pointing out no-quorum repeatedly; however, the government successfully managed to carry on holding discussion on the budget.
The protest during the winding up speech was also joined by senior party leaders setting aside the Speaker's rulings.
“This is total violation of Rule 30 and 31. It is unfortunate that opposition has no regard for Parliament,” Fehmida Mirza commented.
State Minister for Defense Production Bahadur Khan Sihar said the Speaker is showing utmost tolerance otherwise the protesting opposition members deserve to be disqualified.
The finance minister, in his budget speech, pinned hopes for achieving goal of self reliance and reiterated resolve of the government to continue serving the poor masses.
Amidst uproar by the opposition, the minister in his speech to wind up the general debate on annual budget 2012-13, mentioned to various achievements of the government during the last four years and specifically the financial year ending on June 30, 2012.
“It is responsibility of the government to provide relief to masses and we did it and achieved different goals on way to self-reliance,” the minister added.
He specifically mentioned to exports, remittances and tax collection which he said had set new records in the country's history with exports surpassing US$ 25 billion marks, remittances going above US$ 13 billion and achieving tax collection target of Rs 1952 billion.
“It never happened before. It is evident that we are heading towards self-reliance that will result in prosperity of our people,” he said and mentioned to Rs 400 billion additional taxes collected this year.
He appreciated the Senate for hard work to prepare recommendations for the budget and said most of their proposals will be added to the budget document and finance bill.
He also thanked President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani for their support and guidance for preparing budget and the Speaker and political parties in the House for constructive discussion and proposals.