Something unusual happened during a routine session of Pakistan’s National Assembly. The typical Pakistani kind of incident took place this week after Speaker Ayaz Sadiq found a bundle of cash lying on the floor. On Monday, Sadiq found 10 notes of PKR 5,000 and decided to identify the rightful owner during the proceedings.
“Whose money is this? Whoever it belongs to, please raise your hand,” he announced, waving the cash in the air for all MPs to see.
12 Owners For 10 Notes
What happened next left the House stunned. Around 12-13 members instantly raised their hands to claim ownership, despite there being only 10 notes. Observing the absurdity, the Speaker remarked, “There are 10 notes, yet 12 owners.”
The light-hearted chaos briefly halted the session, and footage of the incident quickly went viral on social media.
Owner of The Lost Cash Identified, Social Media Reacts
According to Pakistan’s Aaj TV, the money was eventually traced to its actual owner, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, a lawmaker from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Afridi later collected the amount from the National Assembly office.
As the clip circulated widely, Pakistanis used the moment to mock their political class, with many expressing frustration over what they called entrenched dishonesty.
One user joked that the “Speaker missed 25 calls from Sharif brothers,” implying political pressure behind the scenes. Another X user wrote, “They take salaries and perks in millions, yet this is their state.”
Several users argued that those lawmakers who falsely claimed the money should face consequences. Many insisted that all 12 MNAs who raised their hands ought to be held in contempt of Parliament and dismissed for disgracing the “parliament of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”
🇵🇰 पाकिस्तान के Assembly में अध्यक्ष ने कुछ पैसा दिखाकर कहा कि “ये किसी के पैसे गिर गए है, जिनका है हाथ खड़ा करे”।
अब जितने पैसे नहीं थे उतने से अधिक सांसदों ने पैसे लेने के लिए अपना हाथ खड़ा कर दिया।😂🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/fDeJ2xm4Qa
— Einstein Yadav (@GYdv28) December 9, 2025
Pakistan’s Economic Struggle
The incident comes at a time when Pakistan is grappling with a prolonged economic crisis. The country nearly defaulted in 2023, narrowly avoiding collapse after securing a $3 billion IMF loan. Despite repeated attempts at stabilisation, financial stress remains a defining challenge for millions of Pakistanis.
Also Read: Pakistan Army Spokesperson Caught Winking At Female Journalist, Faces Huge Backlash
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
