KARACHI: All opposition parties in the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday boycotted the budget session and staged a strong protest, accusing the government of sidelining them by presenting the budget without prior consultation.

As Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah called for presentation of the budget statement for the financial year 2026-27, the opposition members belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamaat-i-Islam rose holding placards and chanting slogans against the provincial government.

The speaker tried to calm down the agitating opposition members, telling them that the opposition leader could address the house to register the protest. “Who want to speak on the matter?” he asked as the opposition members continued their protest.

Later, the opposition leader, once given floor, said that urban representatives should have been taken on board. “No pre-budget session was held,” said Ali Khurshidi, adding that the budget was being presented unilaterally. He added that democratic traditions had been bypassed.

Muttahida, PTI and Jamaat lawmakers say they will continue their protest during budget debate

Khurshidi said that the protest was a democratic right of the opposition.

“Do whatever you want — we will do what we want. This is democratic dictatorship. We boycott it,” he said, walking out along with some of the party members.

However, other MQM-P members along with the PTI and the JI members stayed back and gathered in front of the podium raising slogans against the government.

The situation compelled the opposition leader to reach the protesting members, apparently to persuade them to walk out.

In the meanwhile, the chief minister began his speech amid ruckus.

After a 10-minute discussions, all opposition members finally walked out of the house raising slogans “Kala budget namanzoor”.

Later, at a joint media talk on the premises of the assembly, all opposition parties jointly rejected the new fiscal year’s budget, terming it a “jugglery of words” and “anti-people”.

They announced that they would protest during the budget debate and raise public issues at every forum.

Opposition Leader Khurshidi, PTI parliamentary party leader Shabbir Qureshi, and JI parliamentary leader Muhammad Farooq spoke on the occasion.

Khurshidi said the provincial government’s policy was “stubborn and authoritarian,” adding that the budget lacked representation for urban Sindh and was presented by a “specific class”.

“We have rejected this budget. Under the rules, no pre-budget session was held,” he added.

The opposition leader said that the united opposition was protesting and would protest at every forum, in every manner. “The protest is against the authoritarian attitude and the destruction of rural and urban Sindh,” he added.

Khurshidi said that the opposition parties were united on a common agenda. “The fight has just begun, let’s see what happens next,” he said.

MQM-P parliamentary party leader Iftikhar Alam said the budget was being rejected due to the government’s “authoritarian conduct”.

“Sindh has been left bleeding. Education and health facilities are inadequate. Karachi has been completely ignored. This is not a people-friendly budget,” he said.

JI’s Muhammad Farooq said the opposition was fighting the case of Karachi and the province. “Karachi contributes 95 per cent to the budget. Should we keep paying them taxes?” he asked.

The JI member said that the budget was for the elite and for the corruption industry. “The federation is also not serious about Karachi,” he said, vowing that the JI would continue to register its protest.

The opposition leaders said all opposition parties would continue their protest.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2026