Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has formally approached the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to garner support for boycotting the upcoming federal budget vote, with a key meeting held at the Parliament House on Monday.PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser called on PPP’s Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, also a former speaker, to request his party’s backing in a potential boycott of the budget proceedings. 

“I have heard the statements of PPP leaders regarding their reservations on the budget,” said Qaiser during the meeting. “If PPP is serious, it should stand with us in boycotting the vote.” According to PTI sources, the meeting was arranged as part of the party’s ongoing effort to build pressure against the coalition government over what it terms an “anti-people budget” and “undemocratic proceedings” in the lower house. 

In response, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf assured that the matter would be placed before PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who is expected to attend Monday’s session of the National Assembly. “I will consult with Chairman Bilawal Bhutto upon his arrival at Parliament today,” said Ashraf. While PPP has voiced concerns over the federal budget presented by the PML-N-led coalition, it has yet to make a definitive decision on whether to support or oppose the finance bill in the assembly.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)