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The debate on federal budget 2012-13 in Upper House Parliament on Thursday turned into a moral and ethical session as members both from treasury as well as opposition put aside the purpose of the proceedings - recommendations regarding the budget.
Senator Muzaffar Hussain Shah of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) was the lone member, who while taking part in the debate made some valuable suggestions to make the finance bill a bit people friendly. Finance minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, who usually skips the important debate on the pretext that he remains busy in National Assembly, also turned up in the Senate for a short time, when opposition lawmaker took a firm stance - what is the use of such a debate when the concerned minister who despite being a senator, and has an important role in the budget making process, did not pay any heed to Senate.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) - a major opposition political party, staged a token walkout from the House as usual after Senator Nisar Muhammad of PML-N, who on Thursday opened the budget debate, concluded his speech cum criticism of the government and announced that after apex court's ruling the prime minister as well as the federal cabinet does not exist anymore.
Soon after PML-N walkout, Leader of the House Jehangir Badar criticised PML-N for its never ending and ongoing exercise of boycotting the house proceedings, saying the party [PML-N] has no courage to listen to the bitter truth. "They (PML-N) are saying that we are obliging Jialas while giving jobs but matter of fact is that 80 percent of PPP activists are victim of fragile economy," Badar said. After Jehangir Badar, Senator Ahmed Hassan Khan of PPP strongly rejecting the allegations levelled by PML-N Nisar Muhammad during his speech regarding corruption in Benazir Income Support Programme and favouritism.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of absence of PML-N from the House, Senator Mutkhtar Ahmed Dhamra of PPP criticised Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for not appearing before a privilege committee of Sindh Assembly where a motion was moved against him by some MPAs for his [Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan] alleged remarks aimed to disgrace traditional Sindhi Topi and Ajrak.
The enraged Dharma during his speech targeted Chaudhry Nisar and uttered some un-parliamentary language, which was later expunged by the chair from the proceedings of the House. As he concluded his hard-hitting speech where he announced that he would alone stage protest against Chaudhry Nisar in front of the Parliament until he [Chaudhry Nisar] appear before the privilege committee, the PML-N legislator made a comeback to the House.
Leader of Opposition in Senate Ishaq Dar expressing his grave concerns over the attitude of Presiding Officer Gul Muhammad Lot said the chair was not adhering to defined rules required to run the House. "The budget session is in progress but you [Gul Muhammad Lot) are giving chance to everyone to say whatever he wants...it is not appropriate," Ishaq Dar observed.
"We should observe parliamentary and democratic norms. It is our foremost duty to respect both the houses and should not discuss any member on floor of the House". He said that Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly was an elected member and had already made it clear that he never made any humiliating remarks about Sindhi Cap and Ajrak.
Dar requested the Chair to expunge Dhamra's whole speech against Chaudhry Nisar as the speech was based on mere speculation. He said both the PPP and PML-N jointly struggled to oust military dictator General Musharraf and they should not cross the red lines.Acting Chairman Senate Sabir Baloch, who took over the proceedings of the House during Mr Dar's speech, said that Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan was an honourable member of the National Assembly and hence should be given due respect. He expunged remarks against the Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly.
Senator Muzaffar Hussain Shah of PML-F while taking part in the budget debate called upon the government to address the issue of circular debt at earliest. He said the government should pay attention towards the alternative energy sources like solar energy to cope with the power crises.
He also called for enhanced incentives for overseas Pakistanis who according to him were contributing in prosperity of the country in the shape of foreign remittances. Besides asking the government to resolve agriculture related issues Shah demanded of the government to waive off interest and postponement of recoveries from the farmers of calamity stricken areas of Sindh province. He said it is the need of the hour that government work to establish agro-based industries in the country. The House was adjourned to meet again Friday at 10:30am.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012

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