Another face-off: Senators argue, avoid budget debate

PML-N alleges corruption in BISP, PPP hits out at Chaudhry Nisar.

ISLAMABAD:

The two largest parties in the upper house of parliament – the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – locked horns for yet another day and discussed everything except ‘budgetary proposals’ on Thursday.

The debate was dominated by the controversy over lawmakers’ dual nationality and alleged corruption in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo pointed out the absence of Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh but Deputy Chairman Senate Sabir Baloch, who was chairing the session, said the finance minister had already denied the allegations.

PML-N Senator Nisar Muhammad alleged that PPP ‘jiyalas’ had been given Rs25 billion out of the BISP, and also criticised Rs27 billion allocated to the prime minister’s discretionary fund.

PML-N members staged a walkout from the Senate after Muhammad’s speech.

Responding to Muhammad’s tirade, Leader of the House Jahangir Badar said the opposition should have the courage to sit and listen to others as well.

Senator Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah said the government has presented a balanced budget against the backdrop of global recession and devastation caused by rains and floods. The difficulties of the federal government are compounded by transfer of more resources to provinces under the 7th NFC award, he added. Senators Ahmad Hasan and Robina Khalid of PPP also rejected the criticism against BISP and dispelled the impression that funds under the project were being doled out to PPP workers.

PPP’s Mukhtar Ahmad accused the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of committing contempt of Sindh Assembly by not appearing before its privileges committee despite receiving three notices.

Leader of the Opposition in Senate Ishaq Dar said that there should be mutual respect by the two houses of parliament for each other.

“Leader of the Opposition in the other house cannot be criticised in this house. If you have anything against him to speak, you have representation in the National Assembly and can do it there”, Dar told the PPP enators.

He said Nisar had already clarified his position that he never ridiculed Sindhi ‘topi’ and ‘ajrak’.

The house was adjourned till Friday (today).

Published In The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2012.