Govt trying to keep NA in order for last budget

View from the Gallery

Technically this is the last budget of the PML-N government’s five year tenure in power. And with budget speech of their financial Czar Senator Ishaq Dar just a day away, the treasury faces a daunting task to assemble and then maintain quorum in the National Assembly through their least bothered back benchers. And then maintain a conducive atmosphere to have a smooth working relation with the agitation by PTI-PPP opposition throughout the laborious budget session. 

So Wednesday was one such those days in the National Assembly when the headline political issues had to take a back seat. Happens rarely. But with budget speech of Senator Ishaq Dar just round the corner, government seems in an extra cautious, accommodating mode. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq knows fully well it is going to be a long haul of several days to get through budget 2017-18. So he and ministers concerned have to be on their toes to keep the PML-N backbenchers assembled, under constant check. In such a scenario at hand, one needs to keep the agitation hardy Opposition in good mood. On its part, the Opposition knows the euphoria around “news leaks” almost fizzled out, and with no meat available on “Panama Leaks JIT proceedings” it has to focus on real issues -- inflation, unemployment, and development -- at least for the month of June. And then hope and expect the July monsoon to bring an unexpected wet season for the ruling party, if JIT comes up with a timely report as mandated by the apex court. During the budget session the Opposition folds have limited options.

At best they can play to the galleries, stage walk out or boycott the proceedings as an extreme measure. So why not keep the options open and give a tough time to the treasury through some hard hitting, sentimental, emotional speeches on the economic hardships majority of the countrymen face. So keeping the laborious budget passage exercise in mind, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq is already in an advance gear, ready to play ball with the opposition employing mild strokes, light jokes, whatever best at his disposal. The target audience is the bunch of most vocal opposition leading lights. The rehearsal began on Wednesday through a legislation (Companies bill) sent back by the Senate with some amendments. Here Asad Umar was quick to point out an anomaly, PPP’s Shazia Marri and ANP’s Ghulam Ahmed Bilour got side tracked unwittingly. Both, employing their own unique points, wasted no time in branding it as an infringement upon the provincial autonomy under the 18th amendment. Asad was however quick to understand and take a back seat when law minister went to him to explain the matter. But, the most interesting part of the bill passage was at the climax. 

The Speaker did not want to read out 200 plus clauses/amendments and wanted to club all to pass through one voice vote. Khurshsid Shah could guess the game plan. So he didn’t hesitate to demand some extra courtesy from the few ministers in attendance as the three front rows the treasury were mostly empty. It was fulfilled then and there as the Speaker rushed three ministers to approach the Opposition benches, especially Dr Mazarri. Minister Pir Aminul Hasnaat literally went to her to beg for her pardon in a light vain. It suddenly translated into a comic relief -- every body laughed, enjoyed. These are mental preparations to land into a bit tense, laborious budget session ahead. 

Asad Umar, Dr Shireen Mazarri from the PTI side and to some extent Mr Shafqat Mahmood – especially when he is not full of himself and in a light mood a mood  -- do contribute productively both in terms of substance and rhetoric to the proceedings on any given day. One can differ with them, criticize them, But they are a few ones who add some life to the otherwise dull proceedings of the Lower House of Parliament.  Rest of the PTI bandwagon is always in talk show, public meeting mode all the time, especially their tv news show star, Ali Mohammad Khan. He would generally kick start any discussion employing some heartwarming prose of the great poet Allama Iqbal, and end up in an imitative tone, very furiously at times when his argument is not given weightage.

PPP is a different ball game. They have a few presentable faces who can speak on issues or who come prepared. Rest is the happy-go-lucky, least bothered group of feudals, pirs. Despite his feudal background, Syed Naveed Qamar leads the presentable ones . A pragmatic by nature, and a seasoned parliamentarian now, he knows his limitations in the opposition folds under the Zardari-Bhutto dynasty. Then there is Shazia Marri, Nafessa Shah, adhi Azra Fazal. One literally struggles to find a few more names. Ijaz Jhakrani tries to do his bit, but is always short of words, boldness. Shazia Marri stands out amongst this list of PPP MPs. 

Once a Sindh cabinet minister. she reportedly opted for the National legislature. And here she is performing as the most vocal and active one from the Opposition benches who takes keen interest in legislation, issues. Sometimes keeping a low by strategy, keeping in view the flock all around. Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah is always there to say something, make his presence felt. Even if he struggles with issues, facts and figures, he does it well on political-general stuff, employing all his training from a political worker to this level. These days, he feels himself in a safe zone as chances of Zardari sahib and Bilawal landing in the present National Assembly have almost diminished. 

The father-son duo were probably banking more on Premier Sharif’exit from Parliament as a result of a possible adverse apex court decision. That didn’t happen. And here we are Khurshid Shah having a sigh of relief, even when it was announced his seat won’t be occupied if both Asif Zardari and Bilawal land after contesting elections. May be more joyful days, happy-go-lucky political rides in the offing.