Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah has urged the Supreme Court to take action on alleged violation of the Constitution, as a 'stranger' presented the federal budget 2018-19 in the House. Talking to the media here on Saturday after attending an event 'Yadian' organized by Parveen Shakir Trust, the opposition leader lashed out at the government for presenting the budget for the whole year instead of four months.
He said the government has no mandate to present the budget for whole year, adding that the opposition does not recognize the budget as a valid one, saying the government has violated the Constitution. Referring to elevating Miftah Ismail from adviser to a federal minister with a view to present the budget, he said the government has wrongly interpreted the Constitution by taking the decision.
"It is therefore, necessary that the Supreme Court should take notice of violation of the Constitution," he said, adding that the apex court is the appropriate forum to interpret the Constitution. By presenting the budget through a 'stranger' in the House, Shah said the government has also negated the narrative 'respect the vote' of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
"How could you claim that you are struggling for the respect of vote while you are presenting the budget through a person who is neither member of the Senate nor the National Assembly?" he questioned. He also announced that opposition would also move a privileged motion in the National Assembly against the government, saying that sanctity of the House has been breached by presenting the budget by a person who is not a parliamentarian.
He also hinted at a strong resistance from the opposition side, saying that it would be difficult for the government to pass the budget. "Though the government has the majority, it would face a strong resistance to get the budget passed," he said. However, he said the opposition would take part in the budget debate, adding that the Parliament is the appropriate forum to point out 'wrongdoings' of the government and to register protest.
Earlier, rich tributes were paid to the noted poets of the region including Allama Mohammad Iqbal, Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Munir Niazi, Nasir Kazmi, Habib Jalib, Shakib Jalali, Adda Jafri, Josh Maleehabadi, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Parveen Shakir and others who have made an incredible contribution to Urdu literature and poetry.
On the occasion, former chairman Senate Raza Rabbani was awarded with Parveen Shakir Best Fiction Award - 2017 in English Literature for his book 'Invisible People.' Speaking on the occasion, Rabbani said it is unfortunate that the State of Pakistan has made a cautious decision to put an end to the free thinking and getting knowledge through wisdom while "a line has been drawn and the masses are forced to follow that line."
"We are living in an intolerant society governed by fundamentalism and sectarianism. It has been created so that the people are not able to think freely but to follow the line drawn by the state," he remarked. Rabbani also retuned and donated a cheque of Rs 100,000 to Parveen Shakir Trust which was earlier awarded to him for his book.
The Urdu poetry work done by two young poets was also recognized on the occasion. Saeed Shariq, a young poet, was awarded with Aks-e-Khusboo Award - 2017 for his book 'Sayya' and Jia Shah with Parveen Shakir Trust Members Choice Award - 2017 for her book 'Bab-e-Gul Hawa Ka Baya'an'.