ISLAMABAD: PPP’s parliamentary leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman on Tuesday called for a thorough review of the upper house’s limited powers in budget making.

Speaking in the house, she suggested convening the Committee of the Whole house to deliberate on this matter and decide on a concrete plan of action. She said the Senate was the upper house of parliament, but had no meaningful role in approving the budget.

“As per rules, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance has 14 days to submit its recommendations, which the National Assembly can accept or reject at its discretion,” Senator Rehman asserted.

She said the committee this year made 128 recommendations after detailed deliberations with all stakeholders, but pointed out that most of them were rejected within minutes in the National Assembly.

Sherry says senators made 128 recommendations on budget, none of which were considered by lower house

“Our recommendations should not be dismissed. This house is not a second-class parliament.”

The house also witnessed a controversy over the alleged refusal by PTI members to sign a resolution against recent mob lynching incidents.

Senator Rehman criticised PTI for obstructing budget speeches and not participating in the passage of a resolution against extremism.

“[PTI] did not allow budget speeches yesterday. We moved a resolution against extremism in the Senate, but [PTI] members did not sign it as they were busy protesting. This unfortunate attitude meant the resolution, which should have been passed unanimously, was passed by a majority vote instead.

She said the party is now complaining about not being asked to sign the resolution, which she claimed was not true. She said Tehreek-i-Insaf also refused to sign a similar resolution in the National Assembly.

Leader of the Opposition in the House Syed Shibli Faraz speaking earlier had refuted the allegation that his party refused to sign the resolution against extremism. He said the information minister came to him only after the resolution had been adopted by the house.

“This can be verified from the video footage,” he claimed.

Mr Faraz also regretted the continued obstruction of parliamentary oversight of the government’s performance. Explaining his point, he said the questions asked by the Opposition and calling attention notices submitted with the Senate Secretariat are declared inadmissible without any cogent reason.

Citing an example, he said an instrument seeking to discuss the deteriorating economic situation was also declared inadmissible.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2024