Shirking responsibility: Senators skip crucial budget session of parliamentary panel

Panel to scrutinise the Finance Bill prepared by bureaucrats.


Express June 08, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


For the first time in recent parliamentary history, a senate panel on Tuesday could not perform its constitutional job of scrutinising the proposed budget, primarily due to self-centeredness of the opposition and indifference of the ruling party legislators.


The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue was to meet to scrutinise the most important element of the budget, the Finance Bill 2011 that carries all taxation proposals. But the meeting had to be adjourned until Wednesday morning as none of its 14 members turned up, except for committee chairperson Senator Ahmed Ali of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Senators belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PML-Quaid (PML-Q) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) boycotted the proceedings in protest against the government’s decision to appoint Maulana Ghafoor Haideri of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) as the opposition leader in the upper house of parliament. Senator Talha Mahmood of the JUI-F did not make it to the proceedings either.

Meanwhile, senators from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) were also absent. Finance Minister Hafiz Shaikh also did not make it to the panel proceedings.

‘Black day’

“This has happened for the first time and is a black day in parliamentary history,” said a visibly dejected chairman of the committee.

Senator Ali said it was disappointing to see that even PPP senators did not come to defend their party’s budget. “Sadly, the committee which is assigned to discuss Pakistan’s budget could not meet due to lack of quorum.”

Crucial role

Under the constitution, after budget presentation in the National Assembly, the Senate has 14 days to critically review it and propose amendments.

The Senate panel is the first parliamentary forum that scrutinises the Finance Bill, prepared by bureaucrats, and not only improves the draft but also inserts important amendments with the consent of the finance ministry.

While the National Assembly has the right to accept or reject its proposals, it usually accepts most of the recommendations unanimously forwarded by the Senate standing committee.

The Senate has already tabled 192 recommendations for the standing committee’s consideration.

As many as 59 of them have been suggested by the Independent Group of the Senate led by Senator Raja Zafarul Haq and 42 by the MQM. The remaining are individual members’ proposals.

Senator Ali said he has tried to convince the members including Senator Ishaq Dar that party politics should remain confined to the Senate House and the committee should keep working above party lines.

He expressed optimism that the committee would still be able to pass the bill and table it at the Senate forum on time.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2011.

COMMENTS (4)

Jeneva | 12 years ago | Reply Good to see a tlanet at work. I can’t match that.
ishrat salim | 12 years ago | Reply This reflects the quality of Lawmakers / MPs & Senators we hv...I fully agree with the comments of Mr Ali....well ! said.Democracy has become a " comouflage " behind which each of the political parties & politicians are taking refuge under one excuse or the other...except serving the people who hv elected them.
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