Islamabad:
The federal budget for the financial year 2025-26 came under fire in the Senate on Friday, where legislators from both the Treasury and the opposition bench condemned it.
Questions that affect minority society in Sindh and the ongoing situation in Balochistan also contained prominence in the session.
The house, led by Vice President Syedal Khan Nasir, was briefly witnessing a boycott of opposition members because of the absence of any minister.
The debate on the budget is resumed after the arrival of Attorney General Azam Nazeer Tarar and Ministry of Parliament Minister Tariq Chaudhry.
Senator Dinesh Kumar highlighted the alleged kidnapping of three girls and a boy from the minority community in Sindh. “It is heard that these girls were forced to be converted,” he told Parliament, calling on the Sindh Chief of Police to take immediate notice of the incident.
In response, Vice -President Sindh Chief Secretary and Police Inspector instructed to submit a report and further instructed the officers to meet Senator Kumar to tackle his concerns.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Waqar Mehdi informed the house that “the girls had been recovered” and would be presented to the relevant court in Karachi. He assured that “there would be no discrimination against minorities”.
Maulana Attaur Rehman approved Senator Kumar’s concerns and called for the accountability of the Sindh government. Senator Raja Nasir Abbas added: “There is no coercion in religion and kidnapping girls is wrong.”
Senator Khalil Tahir Sindhu pointed out that the budget did not contain any allocations to minorities or interreligious harmony. Deputy Chairman responded by advising him on taking up the matter in his own party when he belonged to the reigning coalition.
Senator Khaleda Ateeb raised the question of a tragic dumper accident in Karachi who claimed the life of a woman and her daughter. “Why is dumping mafia so strong in Karachi?” She asked.
Senator Mehdi replied that the provincial government endeavored to enforce traffic laws.
Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi called on the government to play a greater role in the effort to stop the Iran-Israel conflict. He warned that “Israel would change the government of Iran and bring its dolls there”.
He also criticized the budget for ignoring Balochistan and said, “Balochistan cannot be ignored. We should have had a plan to resolve the situation in Balochistan. Take Balochistan seriously.”
In response, Attorney General Tarar repeated that Balochistan was a high priority for government and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
