The Senate on Friday witnessed a rare revolt by members of the treasury benches, who led a walkout against the government for its apparent indifference over the inordinate delay in releasing development funds to senators.
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haji Adeel proposed the walkout after lawmakers, irrespective of party affiliation, constituency or gender posed the question: why are MNAs given preference over senators in the allocation of funds? “We should stage a walkout against the prime minister and the establishment,’’ declared Haji Adeel. His revelation about not receiving any allocation for years struck a chord of sympathy.
Pakistan Peoples Party stalwart, Raza Rabbani, the chairman Implementation Commission for the 18th Amendment, joined the angry protesters, leaving behind Leader of the House Nayyer Hussain Bokhari, Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan and Science and Technology Minister Changez Khan Jamali.
PML-Q’s Semeen Yusuf Siddiqui provoked a debate on a point-of-order. She complained that the Prime Minister Secretariat and Finance Division were not cooperating with women senators for the release of development funds. She proposed a meeting with the prime minister to resolve the issue prior to the budget. Syeda Sughra Imam of the PPP reminded the government that the PM had announced Rs10 million in development funds for every senator.
Funds allocated to senators stood at Rs20 million last year, she added. She asked that a committee be set up to inquire why the officers concerned had violated the policy and had chosen to oblige a select few while ignoring other senators. Senators Kalsoom Parveen, Suriya Amiruddin, Wali Badini and Razzaq Khan also expressed their concerns during a brief debate that culminated in a walkout.
The government had to face further embarrassment when Deputy Chairman Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali deferred The Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Bill, 2010 moved by Environment Minister Samina Khalid Ghurki in the Senate. Since environment is now a provincial subject after the 18th Amendment, he did not refer it to the relevant standing committee.
Bewildered over the fact that the National Assembly had already passed the bill, Chairman Standing Committee on Environment Muhammad Humayun Khan Mandokhel said it was in violation of the constitution.” But Nayyer Hussain Bokhari defended the move on the grounds that as a signatory to international conventions, Pakistan had an obligation to abide by them.
The bill was aimed at translating the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora into law.
Senator Raza Rabbani said that as the Leader of the House in the Senate represents the Prime Minister, his support for the bill gives the impression that the PM himself is against the devolution of ministries.
He was of the view that environment has been devolved to the provinces and there is no justification for federal legislation. “The devolution process, due to be completed by June 30, will be jeopardised if you adopt this approach and it will open a new Pandora’s Box,” Rabbani cautioned the leader of the house.
Former law minister Babar Awan said devolution was completed the day the 18th Amendment was approved. The Implementation Commission is merely working out the modalities.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2011.
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