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Pakistan's National Assembly on Tuesday passed the federal budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, a session that saw the opposition staging a walkout. The walkout followed a speech by Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who criticised the government over several issues. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif then addressed the House, expressing hope that a memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran would develop into a long-lasting agreement.

Budget passage and opposition walkout

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb moved the budget bill for the House to approve the proposals for the next fiscal year, as reported by Dawn. The opposition's walkout preceded the vote, occurring after Achakzai's address. Achakzai had criticised the government on multiple fronts, including the treatment of opposition members, judicial matters, and the government's response to recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Dawn, Achakzai's speech was not livestreamed on the National Assembly's social media platforms or on television channels, despite Speaker Ayaz Sadiq having lifted longstanding curbs on the airing of opposition speeches. Later, Achakzai posted on X: "We have taken an oath to protect the Constitution of Pakistan. You have supported undemocratic forces in trampling the Constitution; through your vote, you have clipped the wings of the judiciary." He said this excerpt was from his address, which he described as "censored."

The opposition leader also criticised Speaker Sadiq directly, saying, "We will have to change our tone now that your government has completed 2.5 years." He referenced the dismissal of 14 assembly colleagues, the sentencing of Baloch Yakjehti Committee's Dr Mahrang Baloch to life imprisonment, and the government's handling of the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He also took aim at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, referring to an earlier speech by him.

Prime Minister's remarks

After Achakzai's speech, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the National Assembly. Dawn reported that he said he would not give a "detailed response" to the opposition leader's criticism. He then turned to recent diplomatic developments, expressing hope that the memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran before their talks in Switzerland would become a "long-lasting agreement."

Sharif recalled the summit at the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, where delegations from the US and Iran held hours-long discussions with Pakistan and Qatar participating as mediators. "Pakistan tried its best, with complete sincerity, to close the distance between the two sides," he said, noting that dialogue beginning on Sunday stretched past midnight into Monday.

He referenced a joint statement issued by mediators in the early hours of Monday, saying technical talks would be held over the next 60 days, covering Iran's nuclear assets, ballistic missiles, and frozen assets. "We fully hope that the MoU will turn into a long-lasting agreement over the next 60 days, leading to peace in the world," he said.

Sharif congratulated the nation and members of the House, highlighting Pakistan's "key" and "historic" role in the mediation. "World's renowned newspapers featured Pakistan on their front pages," he said, calling it a "positive narrative" for the country. He added that "we would not have been able to achieve it even after spending billions of rupees."

The prime minister also mentioned that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was due in Pakistan, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening ties.

Key Claims

  • Budget passage: The National Assembly passed the federal budget for the fiscal year 2026-27.
  • Opposition walkout: The opposition staged a walkout after Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai's speech, in which he criticised the government.
  • US-Iran agreement hope: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope for a long-lasting agreement between the US and Iran.
  • Pakistan's mediating role: Pakistan played a key role in mediating between the US and Iran, as stated by the prime minister.