The PPP-led coalition government finally managed to present its 5th budget, amid vociferous protests by opposition lawmakers who came to blows with members of the ruling coalition.
The crisis between PPP and PML-N - a major opposition political party earlier dubbed as 'friendly opposition', took a turn for the worse as the government presented its final budget during a rowdy parliamentary session on Friday, whereas about four petitions are submitted in apex court to decide fate of a convicted premier.
The National Assembly echoed with the sound of just under 90 opposition lawmakers rhythmically pounding budget documents on wooden desks in protest with slogans of "No Gilani, Go Gilani". The PPP and PML-N MPs punched each other inside the Parliament House when opposition lawmakers moved towards Prime Minister desk, holding placards inscribed with anti-Gilani slogans. The PPP and its coalition MPs jumped out to save the prime minister from being besieged by opposition and stood like a solid rock before the premier's desk in a row.
Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza - who is also under fire by opposition especially PML-N for ruling in favour of Gilani, tried her level best to pacify the enraged opposition lawmakers, reminding them of rules but in vain. The fear to besiege the PM's desk further intensified and PPP lawmakers made a human chain around Prime Minister Gilani, while some of his loyalists kept on hovering around him like hawks. The prime minister helplessly kept on sitting on his seat and thought it in his best interest not to move as he did for 37 second symbolic sentence, given to him by Supreme Court.
Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh's budget speech was completely drowned out but he battled on for an hour to complete at least one part of his budget speech. Interestingly, his budget represents the worst economic news Pakistan has had for years. The country is facing economic crisis, with low growth, an unstable currency, weak reserves and above all miserable energy crisis which is increasing with each passing day.
Sheikh presented what was billed as an election budget with enhanced allocations for the main poverty alleviation programme - Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) - 20 percent hike in pay and pension of federal employees, and setting up of 2,000 Utility Stores from where daily use items including food can be purchased at cheaper rates. The defence budget has gone up by about 10 per cent from Rs 495 billion allocated for this fiscal ending June 30 to Rs 545 billion.
The budget contains nothing for the poor but the only thing the beleaguered PPP takes credit of, is that it has presented five consecutive budgets and completed the parliamentary tenure. Their prime minister, who despite being convicted by a seven-member bench of Supreme Court in a contempt case, can be seen declaring himself as longest serving democratically-elected primer after Liaquat Ali Khan.
And, in another announcement made with an eye on the elections scheduled next year and to stem the criticism about the extravagant lifestyle of the premier, he has announced that his official residence would be turned into an institute of advanced studies while he would move to smaller place. The opposition was quick to pick holes in his announcement, wondering how Gilani's decision to move into a smaller house, drew jibes galore as he has only nine months left.
The opposition is demanding Prime Minister Gilani to step down after his conviction by Supreme Court in a contempt of court case. They [opposition] have paralysed parliamentary business since the assembly was convened after Gilani's conviction. The government has the necessary simple majority to get the budget passed, but this protest is an embarrassment because it challenges the government's assertion that democracy is taking roots in the country. It is also sending out signals of political instability to foreign investors at a time when the government wants to attract more foreign companies into Pakistan for bailing out its dwindling economy.