KARACHI: As many as 29 more lawmakers on Tuesday expressed their views on the provincial budget in the Sindh Assembly on the second day of debate, taking the number of speakers to 55.

While the opposition members rejected the provincial finance plan and termed it a “black budget”, the treasury members said that the provincial government had presented a “very balanced” and “people-friendly” budget even in prevailing difficult economic conditions.

It was a relatively calm day in a thinly attended house, but the atmosphere became extremely tense twice over the remarks of some members from both sides of the aisle, and Acting Speaker Anthony had to ask them to show restraint.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan members became enraged over remarks of Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sadia Jawed regarding the ‘martyrs’ of their party.

29 members take part in debate

They stood up to lodge a strong protest on her utterances, but took to their seats after the intervention of the Acting Speaker.

Moments later, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-backed Sunni Ittehad council members lost their control........

© Dawn Business