PTI-SIC to chalk out protest strategy in pre-budget meeting today
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The political landscape in Pakistan is highly active as the PML-N government prepares to present the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. Multiple parties, including the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), are strategizing their responses and actions in light of the upcoming budget announcement.
### Key Developments:
1. **SIC Meeting**:
- The SIC, backed by PTI, is holding a strategic meeting at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad.
- The meeting includes a lunch for the parliamentarians and will focus on budget speech strategies, protest tactics, and the release of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan.
- Attendees include PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, NA Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and PTI leaders such as Asad Qaiser, Amir Dogar, Ali Muhammad Khan, Zartaj Gul, and all NA members of the alliance.
- After the lunch, members plan to head to the Parliament House at 2 PM.
2. **Budget Presentation**:
- Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb is set to present an Rs18.5 trillion budget.
- The government aims to secure a new IMF bailout with this budget.
3. **PPP's Reservations**:
- The PPP has expressed dissatisfaction with the budgetary proposals finalized by the ruling PML-N.
- Shazia Marri, PPP Information Secretary, conveyed that the PPP held a session chaired by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to discuss the budget.
- The PPP is concerned about the federal government's attitude and unmet demands, especially regarding relief for farmers.
- Marri stated that the PPP parliamentarians will convene another key session at 2:30 PM on Wednesday to discuss their stance on the federal budget.
- Marri reiterated that the PPP will not join the PML-N government’s federal cabinet.
This political activity underscores the contentious and strategic nature of the budget session, with various parties preparing to voice their concerns and shape their responses to the proposed fiscal policies.
