Observer Report
Islamabad
A heated debate was witnessed on National Finance Commission related bill in Upper House of the Parliament on Monday which was later rejected after majority senators voted against it.
MQM Senator Barrister Muhammad Ali Khan Saif had moved the bill, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Amendment of Article 160), in the House.
However, the House rejected the motion to introduce the bill with majority vote as 17 Senators voted in its favour and 25 Senators voted against it.
The bill sought amendment in Article 160, for clause (3A) and substitute it with the following: (3A) at the time of computation of the share of the provinces in each award, the National Finance Commission shall take into consideration the requirements and liabilities of the Federation and all or any other provinces and make variations accordingly”. As per statement of the Objects and Reasons, “The objective of constitution of National Finance Commission in a Federal Democracy is a fair distribution of revenues between federal and provincial governments. The distribution of revenues and Grants-in-Aid Order, 2010 (Presidential Order No. 5 of 2010) had taken effect on July 1, 2010 and was amended in 2015. Article 4 (3) of this Order states that any shortfall in the amount of province shall be made up by the federal government from its own resources”.The Senators from both sides of aisle debated the bill and later rejected the motion for introduction of the bill with majority vote.
Taking part in debate, its mover Barrister Muhammad Ali Khan Saif said the bill related to National Finance Commission Award and share of the provinces and the Centre. He suggested that the bill should be sent to the committee of the whole for thorough discussion so all members could participate in it.
He said it was his constitutional right to discuss the 18th constitutional amendment and NFC. Keeping in view the constitution, he said he presented amendment in the NFC. Leader of the House Dr Waseem Shahzad said all political parties unanimously passed the 1973 constitution with consensus.
