Budgeting amid ‘lame-duck’ opposition

In absence of a large chunk of PTI lawmakers, the coalition govt rolls out its election-oriented budget

ISLAMABAD:

Just like the ‘genuine opposition’, different shades of the budget session were conspicuously missing from the National Assembly on Friday when the federal government introduced the budget for the next fiscal year.

In the absence of a large chunk of PTI lawmakers who recently tendered their resignations, the coalition government rolled out its election-oriented budget amid a rare hush and unprecedented scenes of calm in the lower house of the parliament – an otherwise chaotic site of bickering and deafening noises during the budget presentations.

Unrivalled and unquestioned, the finance minister launched into the speech to lay out the budget as NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf didn’t waste a single minute in inviting him to present the budget.

Observers pointed out that the PML-N-led government’s budget will go down as both the “toughest” and “quietest” in the country’s history as all subsequent governments over the years had to present their budgets amid thunderous opposition and in a cacophonous assembly.

It was also noted that the “lame-duck opposition” comprising dissident members of the former ruling party PTI watched meekly and elicited no murmur. Lawmakers belonging to the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Jamaat-e-Islami were also silent during Friday’s session.

However, despite all the factors working in his best interests, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail read out the budget speech in a mechanical manner and also fumbled on several occasions. At one point, it even began to seem as if it was not the resistance that could have hobbled his ability to rattle off the speech but the absence thereof – as it seemingly did.

Journalists at the press gallery, having a front-row to the country’s “toughest budget”, wondered what would have really transpired had all the PTI lawmakers been present and kept interrupting the finance minister's speech by shouting slogans and banging budget books on desks – a usual practice by the opposition benches over the years.

The incumbent opposition leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz, other dissident lawmakers of PTI and a few other members sparsely occupying the opposition benches busied themselves with devouring the budget books dumped on their tables just before the finance minister started reading his budget speech.

Political experts felt that serious input from the lawmakers was missing as the dim and submissive presence of the ruling alliance and the opposition members was a choreographed formality.

‘Unprecedented in a democratic era’

“I don't think it ever happened in a democratic era,” political analyst Zaigham Khan commented on presenting the budget amid empty opposition benches.

“However, I think there is a more serious issue at play which is the absence of the serious input of public representatives in the budget process.”

“In fact,” Khan pointed out, “you can say that the entire parliament remains absent during the budget process because, unlike advanced democracies, the budget cycle isn't followed properly.” Khan felt that the parliamentary committees do not prepare the proposal or review the budgeting of their relevant departments and sectors.

“Budget documents are dumped in front of parliamentarians on the budget day and they do not get enough time to review them,” Khan, who is also an anthropologist and development professional, said. For him, the reason was simple: parliamentarians also don't get the technical and research support required to be an active part of the process.

“The opposition members also don’t get enough time and support to be an active part of the process,” Khan said, “We can say that the opposition’s absence is only symbolic and the presence of parliamentarians of the ruling alliance is also symbolic.”

Experts believe that the coalition government’s budget is a “litmus test” for it to show its seriousness to redress the economic woes and balance substantial policies with the ones merely aimed at keeping the base happy, especially, as it has to take a fresh mandate from the public in general elections.

Last year, just like all other budget-related proceedings, the National Assembly witnessed a rumpus as lawmakers from the treasury and the opposition benches nearly came to blows and hurled objects at each other during a general debate on the budget presented by the then Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin amid a noisy opposition.

Videos widely shared on social media showed leaders hurling expletives at each other and tossing a book at rivals, who hurled it back at them.

Budget books were seen flying across the National Assembly hall as lawmakers from both sides attempted to hit each other with full force. Sergeants-at-arms to control the situation were called in to rein in the protest teetering on the edge of full-blown violence. But the additional security personnel too appeared helpless.

This year, the usual hustle-bustle was missing and, the experts believe, it will remain missing during the budget debate till the approval of it from the house.