A fiery session of the upper house of the parliament is expected on Friday (today) as Senate is scheduled to start debate on Finance Bill 2019, a copy of which was already laid in the house on June 11. Amidst opposition's hue and cry, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani had adjourned the house till today, against which the opposition lawmakers strongly protested after they were not allowed to share their views on the Finance Bill 2019.
The senators from both the treasury and opposition benches in considerable numbers are expected to attend today's session scheduled to start at 10:30am.
Talking to Business Recorder, the opposition leader in Senate and Chairman Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Raja Zafar-ul-Haq said that opposition senators should be given ample time to share their views during the budget session.
"It's the responsibility of the opposition to reflect the sentiments of general public in the parliament and sensitise the government on the urgent matters of public interest. They should be allowed to do that," he added.
When asked to comment on the reportedly aggressive strategy the opposition has devised for the budget session in Senate and National Assembly, he said, "The opposition only wants to highlight the plight of the public that is worst affected in this budget. There is a flood of unjustified taxes the government has imposed on every sector. Even salaried class has not been spared and common man has been burdened heavily. In such a grave scenario, it is our foremost responsibility to stand up against the government's highhandedness. It would be extremely unfair if the problems of a common man are not highlighted on floor of the house."
Regardless of the opposition's aggressive plans, the ruling PTI does not appear much concerned as far as Senate is concerned. Requesting anonymity, a PTI leader told Business Recorder that the government's foremost focus is to have the Finance Bill 2019 passed from National Assembly.
"On the other hand, Senate has practically no role in the passage of finance bill. All it can do is to debate the bill and make recommendations which are not binding in nature. So, naturally, we are more concerned about National Assembly, to get the bill passed from there," he added.
Constitutionally, the upper house of the Parliament can hold extensive debate on the finance bill and devise recommendations accordingly but it Senate is not involved in budgetary legislation. In addition, it is completely up to the finance minister to either completely or partially accept those recommendations or hand them an outright rejection.
The Article 73 which deals with parliamentary business with respect to money bills reads, "(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in Article 70, a Money Bill shall originate in the National Assembly: Provided that simultaneously when a Money Bill, including the Finance Bill containing the Annual Budget Statement, is presented in the National Assembly, a copy thereof shall be transmitted to the Senate which may, within fourteen days, make recommendations thereon to the National Assembly.
(1A) The National Assembly shall, consider the recommendations of the Senate and after the bill has been passed by the Assembly with or without incorporating the recommendations of the Senate, it shall be presented to the President for assent."
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