The members of the National Assembly on Thursday urged the government to broaden the tax base, besides enlarging the ratio of direct taxes in the country. During the debate on Federal Budget 2012-13, Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) tried its level best to disrupt the proceedings by pointing quorum thrice but the Chair continued the House proceedings, as the required 86 members were present in the House.
PML-N has virtually boycotted the budget debate as part of its on-going protest against Prime Minister Gilani, however its lawmakers including Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Saood Majeed kept strict vigil on the quorum in the House. Taking part in the debate, PPP MNA Abdul Qadir Patel said that the government should introduce wealth tax as a single tax. Due to this action the poor segments of society would get huge relief, as only the rich people would have to pay the tax on their assets, he added. He said the budget may not be ideal but nothing better could have been done in the present circumstances.
He said that the issue of law and order in Karachi should be resolved through political dialogue. He said that innocent people were killed in Lyari operation. Earlier, when Prince Mohiuddin resumed his speech‚ the opposition member Chaudhry Saud Majeed of PML-N pointed out lack of quorum in the House. Counting was done and the House was found in order.
Prince Mohiuddin regretted that the opposition had started a malicious campaign against a Prime Minister, who is an icon of nobility and politics of decency. He referred to the deteriorating situation in Karachi and said normalcy can be restored if all stakeholders sit together and commit themselves to contribute their share for the purpose.
Kishan Chand Parwani of PML-Q said the present government was taking the credit of completing five year term but it should also see as to what harm it has done to the country during its term. He said that due to the wrong policies‚ PIA‚ Pakistan Railways and Pakistan Steel Mills were running in losses. He said the Benazir Income Support Programme was a good scheme but it had been politicised as only the PPP workers were getting assistance under this programme. He said that new recruitment were not being made on merit but on the basis of political affiliations.
Raiz Hussain Prizada of PML-Q on a point of order said that it was a bad practice to point out quorum. He said that it was not part of the rules to point out quorum repeatedly. "Mr Speaker, you are in-charge of this House, you can stop any member to enter the House or expel him from the House,' he said.
Akhonzada Chitan said it was for the first time in about four decades that a democratic government had presented a budget based on internal resources. He said though it was a deficit budget but the government would be able to overcome it through its prudent policies. He regretted that at a time when the present government was presenting a very good budget‚ the opposition resorted to protest that disappointed people.
The PML-N members entered the House with slogans against the Prime Minister during the speech of Akhonzada Chitan. At this stage, the volume of mike of Chitan was increased by staff deputed to record the proceedings.The Opposition members raised slogans "Go Gilani Go, Muk Gia Show Tera Gilani, Go Gilani Go, Federal Budget unacceptable." The Prime Minister was not present in the House.
Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was also absent from the House. The Opposition Leader often keeps himself away from the protest against the Prime Minister and the government and watches it while sitting in last seats of the House or sitting in his chamber.
During the protest of the PML-N members, the Speaker adjourned the session for Zohar Prayers. When the House met again after Zohar Prayer, the Speaker gave floor to Khawaja Sohail Mansoor of MQM to speak on budget. Mansoor said it was a traditional budget whereas there was a need to take hard decisions to address the ills of the economy. He demanded taxing of all incomes including agricultural‚ bringing GST from 16 percent to 12 percent and reducing import duty on industrial machinery from 15 to 5 percent to accelerate the pace of economic development.
After the speech of Mansoor, when the Speaker gave the floor to Syed Zafar Ali Shah of PPP to speak on budget, Saud Majeed of PML-N entered the House for the third time to point out quorum. He pointed out lack of quorum but after counting, the House was found in order. On this occasion, Syed Khurshid Shah said, "we are very thankful to opposition who helped the government to maintain the quorum by pointing out l quorum every now and then."
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