Islamabad
Former Speaker of the National Assembly and Member of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, while addressing the budget session of the National Assembly, stated that the attack launched by Israel on Iran and the subsequent retaliatory action by Iran in defense of its sovereignty must be viewed with moral clarity.
He said that we stand in full solidarity with our Iranian brothers and announce our strong support. It is our moral obligation to stand by Iran at this critical time.
He further said that Israel has committed the worst atrocities against Palestinians, sparing neither children, women, the elderly, nor hospitals and schools.
The international silence, particularly from human rights organizations and so-called democratic states, is criminal. Most disappointing, however, is the deafening silence of the Muslim Ummah.
He demanded that the Government of Pakistan immediately launch diplomatic efforts to convene an emergency session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Asad Qaiser criticized Khawaja Asif’s earlier speech, stating, “He indirectly and directly targeted our leader Imran Khan. Imran Khan is the leader who earned global respect for Pakistan, brought home the World Cup, built Shaukat Khanum Hospital and modern educational institutions, and, above all, never compromised on national security and sovereignty.”
He recalled how, during the Pulwama incident in 2019, Imran Khan firmly declared in Parliament that if India attacked, Pakistan would respond first — and the world witnessed our befitting reply.
Discussing financial injustices towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said, “After the FATA merger, the province’s NFC award share should have increased from 14% to 19%, but there has been no substantial progress.
When Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visits KP, he claims that 1% extra is allocated for terrorism-affected areas, but the agreed 4.84% annual share equivalent to Rs. 381 billion has not been released to date. Furthermore, the hydel profit amount due to the province has also been withheld. Is this all just because the people of KP voted for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
On the electricity crisis, he stated that Eid became a torment for the people of KP, especially in Swabi, where electricity was available for only two hours out of twenty-four. Meat spoiled due to the power outage, causing immense suffering.
Despite repeated government claims that there would be no load shedding during Eid, the ground reality was the opposite. “Since electricity is a federal subject, the public’s protests are directed at our homes and ministers.
Forced load shedding is carried out via NTDC, and the current government has made no investments in the electricity sector. During Omar Ayub Khan’s tenure, funds were allocated for two new grid stations, but the current government has earmarked only Rs. 550 million for the entire province in the PSDP — even those funds are questionable.
We are demanding our constitutional rights, and if the situation remains unchanged, we will stage a sit-in on the motorway with our people.”
On the FATA issues, he said that the federal government transferred responsibilities to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the merger, but the resource distribution remains unjust.
“The people of FATA have endured decades of war, terrorism, and displacement, and now the imposition of a proposed 10% tax is sheer cruelty. We demand the Finance Minister to withdraw this tax and instead announce special developmental initiatives for FATA.”
Concluding his speech, Asad Qaiser highlighted the plight of tobacco farmers, stating that the regions represented by him, Shahram Tarakai, and MNAs from Mardan, Charsadda, and Nowshera are the hub of tobacco cultivation. “Pakistan produces about 110 million kilograms of tobacco annually, and 55% of that is grown in Swabi alone.
Nearly 70,000 families depend on this crop. The government earns around Rs. 300 billion annually from this sector. Yet, directors of the Pakistan Tobacco Board have not been appointed, resulting in no minimum price being set, and companies are exploiting the farmers.”
He clarified, “I have no personal stake in the tobacco business. But I will continue to defend the livelihoods of my constituents on every platform.
