The Sindh Assembly’s initial discussion on the newly proposed provincial budget was overshadowed by heated arguments between the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).
Monday’s session became tense when an MQM-P legislator questioned the close relationship between Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah, whom they identified as the CM’s brother-in-law, labeling it blatant nepotism. The MQM-P argued that having a provincial chief executive so closely related to the head of the bureaucracy creates a conflict of interest and violates good governance principles.
These remarks sparked strong objections and vocal protests from PPP MPAs. The Excise & Taxation Minister requested that the opposition legislator’s comments against the CM be removed from the official record. The acting speaker intervened, urging both sides to de-escalate the situation and respect the decorum of the assembly.
Prior to the dispute, several PPP and opposition lawmakers participated in a general discussion about the budget. PPP members praised the budget for reflecting the aspirations of Sindh’s residents and embodying the party’s pro-people policies and leadership vision. However, opposition lawmakers criticized the PPP’s failure to provide basic necessities and address the serious problems faced by underprivileged communities.
Specifically, MQM-P MPA Jamal Ahmed highlighted the severe water shortages in North Nazimabad and the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board’s slow response to removing animal waste after Eidul Azha. He also criticized the government for excluding development schemes proposed by the opposition from the budget.
PPP MPA Shazia Karim countered that the federal budget neglected Sindh’s developmental needs, particularly regarding funding for the Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway and the K-IV water project. She assured that the provincial government would undertake infrastructure improvements in Lyari. MQM-P MPA Ejazul Haq argued that the budget lacked development plans for Orangi Town and was rejected by Karachi residents as “anti-people.”
Other points raised included calls from PPP legislator Nuzhat Pathan for upgrades to the Water & Sanitation Agency in Hyderabad, and concerns from PPP lawmaker Farzana Baloch regarding inflated electricity bills in Karachi and the lack of accountability for defaulting consumers by K-Electric.
