National Assembly passes budget 2026-27 amid opposition walkout

The National Assembly on Tuesday approved the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year following a protest and walkout of Opposition legislators. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb formally presented the finance bill for approval after opposition members staged a protest and exited the session. The walkout followed a fiery speech by Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who launched sharp criticism against the government on multiple issues. Opening his address, the opposition leader criticised the Speaker’s conduct, saying the government had completed nearly two and a half years in office and accusing the chair of disregarding constitutional principles while removing 14 lawmakers from the Assembly, in an apparent reference to disqualified members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Achakzai also condemned the reported life imprisonment sentence given to Mahrang Baloch of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee and criticised the government’s handling of recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Turning toward Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was present in the House, Achakzai referenced the premier’s earlier remarks, arguing that Pakistan was not an abstract concept but represented all provinces equally, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab. He accused the ruling coalition of interfering with the judiciary and violating constitutional norms, while urging parliament to strengthen democratic institutions. Addressing the PM directly, Achakzai called for engaging the people of Balochistan and ensuring provinces benefit fairly from their own natural resources, extending the same demand to Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq accused the opposition of inconsistency and said he would not permit speeches targeting Pakistan, its armed forces, or the judiciary. He maintained that if his actions were being labelled constitutional violations, he was prepared to stand by them. The Speaker also criticised opposition members for questioning Parliament’s