ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly is all set to meet on Monday, about four days ahead of the laying of the Finance Bill for the upcoming year of 2021-22.
President Dr Arif Alvi has summoned the National Assembly session under article-54 (Clause-1) of the constitution, which will continue till the end of the passage of the finance bill.
Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar will chair the critical session.
This session will prorogue sine die by the end of the current month, as the government will carry out detailed debate on its budgetary proposals and will try to get the budget passed from both houses of the parliament.
Usually, the National Assembly session called in the month of June is considered as a ‘budget session’ as it is extended till the completion of legislative business on the finance bill. The government has planned to present the federal budget [Finance Bill 2021-22] on June 11.
A separate short debate and voting on cut-motions of all the ministries, submitted by the opposition parties would be part of the budget session.
The members of the Parliament from different constituencies would be arriving in the federal capital to participate in the budget session, as per instructions conveyed to them by their party heads.
On the other hand, the opposition will highlight the issue of inflation in the country. The NA will likely witness uproar during the proceedings of the budgetary session. The first day – dealing with a presentation of the budget – and the last day – passage of the finance bill – will likely witness fiery speeches, sloganeering in the house mainly from the opposition benches.
Likewise, the government members will avoid unnecessary debate or point-scoring with the opposition as the main focus will be the smooth passage of the federal budget 2021-22.
PTI BETTER PLACED TO GET FINANCE BILL PASSED FROM NA:
PTI is better placed to comfortably get the finance bill passed in the National Assembly.
The ruling party, with the strength of 156 members, enjoys the support of its six coalition partners from different provinces.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement, with its seven members, has assured the ruling party of its support in passing the budgetary proposals. Pakistan Muslim League, considered the closest ally of the ruling party, has also assured the PTI of giving all its five votes to the government for the upcoming budget. Balochistan Awami Party with its five MNAs and Grand Democratic Alliance with three members would also support the passage of the finance bill 2021.
However, the opposition may get the upper hand in the Senate.
The parliamentary political factions, before the presentation of the federal budget, will start holding parleys to evolve their strategies for the most important session of the NA in the financial year.
While Prime Minister Imran Khan has completed lobbying with his party lawmakers and the government allies, the opposition parties have also been exchanging notes to help block the finance bill. It would be all over for PM Imran if the opposition is able to pull a surprise and block the finance bill.
But since the opposition lacks in number’s game, it is trying to stir controversy and attract the rebelling splinter group of the PTI, led by former party stalwart Jahangir Tareen, which is an uphill task.
The PTI’s government, unlike the previous budget session 2019-20, has dropped a hint to increase salaries of the civil servants in the upcoming budget proposals.
DIVIDED OPPOSITION TRYING TO BLOCK FINANCE BILL
Though the Pakistan Peoples Party has severe reservations against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, its leaders have vowed to collectively oppose the budget. Other opposition parties from the platform of the Pakistan Democratic Movement also have announced to oppose the finance bill.
PML-N has 84 members while the PPP has 56. Muttahida Majlis-e-Mal and Balochistan National Party-Mengal will support the opposition.
