In absentia: In NA, empty chambers witness budget debate

Bored MNAs, chaotic opposition mark all six sittings.

ISLAMABAD:

The national budget is considered one of the most important legislative processes – members on both sides of the aisle, however, seem to be treating it like it’s a waste of their time.

The budget session of the National Assembly is under way – but after six sittings, it’s become increasingly apparent that lukewarm engagement with the budget will remain a salient feature.

While the opposition treats the proceedings as an opportunity to campaign for upcoming elections, members of the treasury benches look disinterested in what their party brethren had to present and debate.

The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has made history by presenting its fifth consecutive budget on June 1 – but so did the biggest opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), through its high-voltage protest against the government.

After witnessing a stormy start when PML-N and PPP members became embroiled in an all-out brawl, this year’s budget session, meant to receive input from both treasury and opposition benches, hasn’t become any more promising.

On the second day of the budget session, the leader of the opposition, who traditionally opens the debate on the budget, did not attend. He wasn’t the only one – only 92 out of 342 legislators were present at the outset, while only 42, according to the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen), were there when the sitting was adjourned.

The third sitting was marked by yet another protest by the PML-N and a walkout by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), an allied partner of the ruling PPP. On that day, 96 legislators were present at the outset while only 46 were present when the house was adjourned.

If this wasn’t setting a bad enough precedent, the fourth sitting started when only 35 lawmakers were present in the house. Quorum was visibly lacking at various stages and was pointed out twice by PML-N MNA Saud Majeed due to which proceedings were suspended twice for 22 minutes and 5 minutes, respectively.

The last two sessions were only slightly better. In the fifth session, 65 members were present at the start of the sitting while 70 were there when it was adjourned. In the sixth, 71 members were present at the start while there were only 64 when it was adjourned.

The key player in the budget session – Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh – was also missing a great deal of the time, although he was supposed to be present in the house to note down suggestions on the budget.

Similarly, Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and parliamentary leaders of other parties in the house were conspicuous by their absence.

Even Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani preferred to avoid the PML-N’s protests against him in the lower house.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2012.