Published June 24, 2026 Updated 30 minutes ago By Zulfiqar Ahmad ISLAMABAD: Moments after the National Assembly passed the Finance Bill 2026-27, opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rejected it on Tuesday, calling the budget “anti-people” and accusing the government of masking worsening economic conditions with hollow claims of stability. At a meeting of the PTI’s joint parliamentary panel, co-chaired by opposition leader in National Assembly Mehmood Achakzai and acting party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the party reviewed the budget session as well as the broader political and economic situation, while further sharpening its criticism of the government’s performance. The party argued that inflation, unemployment and the cost of living continue to rise unchecked, dismissing official claims of macroeconomic “stability” as political messaging detached from the realities faced by ordinary households. Despite their criticism, PTI lawmakers praised their own performance on the floor of the House, insisting they had robustly highlighted fiscal strain and what they termed economic mismanagement throughout the budget debate. The meeting also adopted a resolution condemning National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, alleging partisan conduct during the budget session. The party strongly objected to remarks made about opposition leadership, particularly those directed at Achakzai, which it described as inappropriate and politically charged. PTI reiterated its position that the Speaker’s office must remain strictly neutral, warning that this standard was being steadily eroded. Beyond procedural concerns, the opposition also alleged it was being systematically sidelined in parliamentary speaking opportunities and in the visibility of its contributions within media coverage of House proceedings. The meeting further revived long-standing political demands, including calls for…