Pakistan Muslim League senior leader Khwaja Muhammad Asif Wednesday articulated the opposition's strong objection to the supplementary finance bill or mini-budget which the government is expected to table in the National Assembly tomorrow.
The State Bank of Pakistan has become the local branch of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the SBP governor is like a viceroy to the country, Asif said while addressing the session of the National Assembly held under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri.
"Pakistan has become a colony of international financial institutions," he claimed.
Criticising the federal cabinet's move of granting autonomy to the SBP, Asif said such approvals are tantamount to surrendering the country's sovereignty to international financial institutions.
He said the opposition will strongly oppose the SBP bill and the mini-budget, while pointing out that there was a need to create consensus on both bills.
He also pointed out the lack of quorum in the NA, saying it was the fourth day that the government had failed to ensure it.
Asif furher said that after the country's economic soverignty, its nuclear assets would be the next target.
Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri told Asif that the bills could be debated once they were presented in parliament.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, PPP MNA Raja Pervez Ashraf had said that there was serious concern over reports that the government was planning to introduce a money bill.
He said that inflation, unemployment and the shortage of gas and other commodities was already wreaking havoc with the lives of people.
"If a mini-budget or money bill is in the offing at this time, it would increase their difficulties," while urging members of the lower House to resist the move.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi urged the opposition to play its due role in the house and show some generosity for functioning of the House.
Several lawmakers interrupted the foreign minister's speech, resulting in an uproar with Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri urging members to maintain decorum.
Opposition members also pointed out the quorum and staged a walkout, upon which Suri ordered a head count and decalred that the quorum was complete.
The deputy speaker gave the floor to Qureshi again, who in his speech assured the lawmakers that the government would protect the country's economic sovereignty.
Commenting on the point raised by Asif about the country's nuclear assets, Qureshi said: "I want to say this on the floor of the house that there is, was and will remain a national consensus on credible minimum deterrence."
