The government’s financial managers faced severe criticism for the third consecutive day during the debate on the budget in the Lower House on Wednesday.
The criticism came from both opposition and treasury benches, as a majority of lawmakers expressed serious concern over the country’s economic and security situation. It was the first time since his budget speech that Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh spent several hours in the House, although he avoided writing down parliamentarians’ proposals on federal budget 2011-12.
However, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman kept his focus fixed on issues regarding the war on terror and the security turmoil, instead of debating on the finance bill. Passing clear signals to the press gallery about his possible defection from the PPP, former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi criticised his government’s economic policies and termed the budget an “IMF-approved” document.
Qureshi’s tirade against the PPP government provided an opportunity to Abdul Qadir Patel, who was chairing the session, to prove his loyalty to the PPP’s top command, as he refused to give additional time to Qureshi
JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman said the statement by Iranian president about the US threat to the Pakistan’s strategic assets was enough to open the eyes of the ruling elite, adding that remarks had also been ratified by a Sudanese minister.
PML-N’s Khurram Dastagir said the budget had proved that the government’s intention and direction were far from right. Calling economic strategy an “ostrich strategy”, he said the government had put wrong figures in the budget as it had admitted in its economic survey that inflation had been 24 percent last year. PML-N legislator Ayaz Amir said the relentless drone attacks were making a mockery of parliament’s resolution of May 14.
Humayun Saifullah Khan said the government should focus on hydel electricity generation as it was a cheap source of energy.
Fauzia Wahab of the PPP came down hard on the opposition for lodging its protest during the budget speech, saying roads, not parliament was the proper place for sloganeering. “It shows that the opposition has no argument to make, only slogans,” she said.
Khawaja Sohail Mansoor of the MQM criticised the withdrawal of subsidies, which he said was the only relief given to the masses.
Meanwhile, the Awami National Party (ANP) boycotted the proceedings of the Lower House against deteriorating law and order in Karachi.