Bilawal, Khaqan accuse NA speaker of bias

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday in his speech in the National Assembly criticised the speaker's conduct during the passage of budget.

He said that the speaker snatched the right of every member of the National Assembly and violated the parliamentary traditions. Addressing the speaker, Bilawal said, “You did not allow the vote count as the government faced difficulties for 172 votes. I salute your treasury members, especially Amir Dogar who with utmost difficulties gathered 172 members of treasury benches.” He said, “If the Speaker had accepted our request of counting, the entire nation would have seen that the prime minister did not have 172 votes. You should have ordered to close the doors and make a division but you waited until all the treasury members were in,” he said.

He told the Speaker that before him, the deputy speaker also delayed the proceedings for gathering treasury members. “You have violated the rules. This attitude will not protect the right of voting.” He said according to Rule 276, the Speaker is bound to take challenge of voice vote. “We think that at the time of final vote count, we could have been counted. You did not count but when I challenged the voice vote, you got up and left,” he said, adding that some members worked hard for this budget as Makhdoom Jamil came to the assembly despite a death in his family, Ahsan Mazari also attended the budget session despite a death in his family. “My father is sick but he sat here from beginning to the end. Unfortunately some opposition members and your role let down not only the opposition members but the treasury benches as well. What is the solution to it? We cannot record our vote for the budget and the FATF. If this is not rigging, what it is.”

Earlier, speaking on the floor of the house, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi endorsed the point raised by Bilawal and said in the last three years, the House was not run according to the Constitution and rules. He said once the voice vote was challenged, it was a responsibility of the speaker to order counting. He said Syed Khursheed Shah is one of the oldest members of this house. "Didn't you see Khursheed Shah's chair vacant for the past two years?" he added.

Asad Mahmood said the speaker bulldozed the passage of the budget on Tuesday. "We cannot dictate you but Makhdooms sitting on the government side can dictate you," he said.

Khwaja Asif said the way the National Assembly was run in the last three years did not enhance its prestige. The prestige of the house could have been raised had the house was run as per rules on Tuesday. The PMLN leader said the house be made sovereign to take decisions and execute legislation on its own.

Responding to the concerns raised by Bilawal and other opposition members, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser said that no one had the courage to dictate him. He said that the House passed the Finance Bill 2021 as per the rules and procedures. He said 244 members from opposition and treasury benches participated in the general discussion on the budget.

The record time of almost ninety-three hours was given to the budget which showed seriousness of the members of Parliament towards parliamentary oversight and their constitutional responsibility.