Opposition raises rights, government concerns while government defends safety record
ISLAMABAD:
A heated exchange between the government and the opposition marked proceedings in the National Assembly on Monday during a debate on the interior ministry’s budget and austerity proposals, as lawmakers sparred over human rights, security operations and political accountability in a charged meeting in Islamabad.
The session, chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, saw repeated interruptions as opposition members questioned the government’s record on governance and civil liberties, while the Treasury defended security gains and institutional achievements across several sectors.
Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry led the government’s defense of the ministry, saying it was responsible for 501 martyrs and several ghazis. He said 1,020 people had been martyred in anti-terrorism operations.
He said 3,355 terrorist incidents were reported during the period, with about 95% occurring in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Opposition Leader Barrister Gohar Khan, speaking during the debate, raised concerns over political victimization and alleged human rights violations over the past four years. He said such practices undermined democratic norms and institutional trust.
He criticized the government and warned against using the events of May 9 for political victimization, arguing that legal proceedings should not be influenced by political considerations.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar responded by stating that two opposition members had been represented in the JCP. He also criticized the opposition for boycotting key meetings and said key criminal law reforms remained pending at committee stage.
Separately, JUI-F MNA Noor Alam Khan highlighted the worsening security situation and said that terrorism had hit KP and Balochistan severely and urged that no distinction should be made between different categories of terrorists.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly approved grant demands worth over Rs 10.414 trillion covering 32 ministries and departments. A total of 135 demands were adopted, while 587 opposition cut proposals were rejected by majority vote.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the budget demands for approval, with opposition members making several cut proposals across key ministries, including 90 against the cabinet department, 116 against the energy division and 100 against the finance department.
