THE odds were always stacked against the opposition. Its claims to not let the PTI get its budget apart, it was always known that the government had enough numbers to smoothly manage the National Assembly’s approval for its spending and tax revenue collection plans for the next fiscal year. Hence, the passage of the budget on Tuesday was not unexpected.

What surprised people was the lack of effort on the part of the opposition, specifically the PML-N, the largest opposition group in the Assembly, to resist its passage. More surprising was the sudden disappearance of a large number of PML-N lawmakers from the House just when it was time to vote for or against the budget. Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif, who had pledged to ensure that the budget would not be passed, did not turn up either. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi stayed away on the pretext of a hearing of a case against him.

It seems from their statements justifying their absence that PML-N leaders had already conceded defeat.

Credit must be given to the PPP leadership for ensuring that 54 of the party’s 56 lawmakers were present in the house when the final call for a voice vote on the resolution calling for approval of the Finance Bill was made. Even the ailing Asif Zardari, who had to attend a court hearing in the morning, made sure his vote was counted.

PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also objected to what he called the illegality of the voice vote for the Finance Bill’s approval as he pressed the speaker for a headcount. Unlike the PML-N, the PPP decided not to let the government get away with its budget without a fight. That is what the opposition is expected to do in a democracy: question the government, and hold it to account for its decisions and policies in parliament — and even outside it if need be to protect the rights of the people.

The PML-N was expected to do better. But probably intra-party rifts on a forward strategy is keeping it from exerting its influence in parliament. The divisions in the combined opposition, especially the bad blood between the PPP and PML-N, are also affecting its effectiveness. It is time they set aside their differences to pursue a joint strategy on major issues that come up in parliament to question the ruling party’s policies instead of allowing it carte blanche when it comes to national affairs.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2021