PM highlights 'successes' in 22-month rule.

Byline: Amir Wasim

ISLAMABAD -- Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday made a surprise appearance in the National Assembly to personally respond to the criticism made by the opposition during more than one-week-long general debate on the federal budget and forcefully defended his policies aimed at handling multiple crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic, being faced by the country.

During his 75-minute speech, which was later termed a 'lecture' by PML-N's Khawaja Asif, the prime minister, besides defending the economic policies of the government, also spoke at length on all key national issues, including the novel coronavirus, locusts, foreign policy and the ongoing accountability process in the country, and presented an overview of the 22-month performance of his government.

The prime minister, while discussing the country's relations with the United States, stirred a new controversy in the country when he called slain top Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden a 'Shaheed' (martyr).

PML-N parliamentary leader Khawaja Asif later took the prime minister to task for 'declaring' Osama Bin Laden a martyr, saying the Al Qaeda leader was a 'terrorist' who had 'ruined our country'.

An independent MNA from the country's tribal areas, Mohsin Dawar, also raised the issue and sought an explanation from the treasury benches. He later protested over the remarks and staged a walkout when he got no response.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who was present in his Parliament House chamber, also rushed to the assembly hall in the middle of the prime minister's speech to respond to him.

The PPP chairman gave the response, but only after departure of the prime minister from the house which was facilitated by Speaker Asad Qaiser by declaring a break for Asr prayers as soon as the prime minister finished his speech.

This was for the first time that the speaker had suspended the proceedings for the prayers since the start of general discussion on the budget on June 15, apparently to prevent the PPP chairman from taking the floor in the presence of the prime minister.

Covid-19 handling

Responding to the opposition's criticism of the government's handling of coronavirus, the prime minister categorically stated that there was no confusion in the government policy to handle Covid-19 and from the day one he was 'consistent' and clear in his mind on the issue of imposition of lockdown in the country. He challenged the opposition to hear all his speeches and point out the...

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