ISLAMABAD: Moments after the National Assembly passed the Finance Bill 2026-27, opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rejected it on Tuesday, calling the budget “anti-people” and accusing the government of masking worsening economic conditions with hollow claims of stability.
At a meeting of the PTI’s joint parliamentary panel, co-chaired by opposition leader in National Assembly Mehmood Achakzai and acting party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the party reviewed the budget session as well as the broader political and economic situation, while further sharpening its criticism of the government’s performance.
The party argued that inflation, unemployment and the cost of living continue to rise unchecked, dismissing official claims of macroeconomic “stability” as political messaging detached from the realities faced by ordinary households.
Despite their criticism, PTI lawmakers praised their own performance on the floor of the House, insisting they had robustly highlighted fiscal strain and what they termed economic mismanagement throughout the budget debate.
The meeting also adopted a resolution condemning National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, alleging partisan conduct during the budget session.
The party strongly objected to remarks made about opposition leadership, particularly those directed at Achakzai, which it described as inappropriate and politically charged.
PTI reiterated its position that the Speaker’s office must remain strictly neutral, warning that this standard was being steadily eroded.
Beyond procedural concerns, the opposition also alleged it was being systematically sidelined in parliamentary speaking opportunities and in the visibility of its contributions within media coverage of House proceedings.
The meeting further revived long-standing political demands, including calls for the release of former prime minister Imran Khan, along with appeals for improved medical access and family visitation.
PTI also reiterated demands for the release of Bushra Bibi and other detained party workers, including those linked to the May 9 unrest, which it continues to describe as politically motivated.
Separately, during the National Assembly session earlier in the day, PTI lawmakers turned their attention to the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) proposed AI-assisted “faceless” audit system, warning it could undermine trust in the tax process.
Barrister Gohar argued that removing human interaction from audits risks weakening grievance redress mechanisms and eroding taxpayer confidence.
He also proposed a significant structural shift in tax policy, suggesting the income tax threshold be raised to an annual Rs3.6 million in line with what he described as international norms.
Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, speaking on a point of order, broadened the criticism beyond taxation, pointing to economic hardship in the former tribal areas.
He cited disrupted trade routes, constrained economic activity, delays in National Finance Commission transfers, and reduced allocations for merged districts, urging targeted relief measures.
Another PTI lawmaker, Amir Dogar, warned that inflation and rising utility costs were intensifying pressure on lower-income households, while also criticising tax measures affecting public sector employees and calling for a more equitable distribution of the fiscal burden.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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