BUDGET 2026-27: Budget debate nearly devolves into fisticuffs

The NA sitting continued even after 9pm on Wednesday amid multiple unpleasant incidents, with lawmakers almost coming to blows in the house, and the session will resume in the morning today. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who is likely to attend today’s sitting, is also expected to speak. The 40-hour limit for discussion was set by the House Business Advisory Committee, and each party is allocated speech time as per their seats in house. After the general debate is wound up, ‘cut motions’ will follow. One day each is allocated for the passage of the finance bill and the supplementary grants in the outgoing fiscal year. As per the tentative schedule prepared by the National Assembly Secretariat, the general discussion was scheduled till June 19, but it was cut short by two days to wrap up the budget by June 24 before the Ashura holidays. ‘Short of brawl’ The session commenced with a heated debate just short of a brawl between Food Minister Rana Tanvir and PTI leader Amir Dogar. During his speech, Dogar made derogatory comments towards the ruling party lawmaker with a smirk. This prompted a harsh response from Tanvir, who said, “I even knew your father — I know who you people are.” His statement invited the ire of other PTI members and Atif Khan even moved towards Rana Tanvir — criticising the minister for involving families in the political debate. The situation escalated, as both sides used “harsh language”. The speaker asked State Minister for Interior Senator Tallal Chaudhary, who was present in the house, to