THE second day of the budget debate in the National Assembly on Tuesday was worse than the first day as lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches nearly came to blows and hurled objects at each other.
The entire nation witnessed its representatives using abusive language and heavy budget documents to hit their rivals causing some injuries as well.
The problem started on Monday when members of the treasury benches did not allow the Leader of the Opposition Mian Shehbaz Sharif to initiate the budget debate as per parliamentary practice in the country and elsewhere in the world.
He was shouted down forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the next day but regrettably the intervening period was not used to defuse the tension and the custodian of the House reportedly conveyed to two PML(N) leaders (who approached him to ensure peaceful environment during speech of the leader of the opposition) that PTI lawmakers do not listen to him.
There is also an impression that instead of controlling the unruly members, the Speaker also added to the intensity of the noise during the speech of Shehbaz through loud and continuous but useless verbal interruptions.
Neutral observers agree that the PTI Government presented a balanced budget in difficult circumstances, therefore, criticism of the opposition would not make much difference.
There is also an impression that the goodwill earned by the Government by announcing a pro-people budget is being lost at the altar of political expediencies.
Heaven would not have fallen if the leader of the opposition was afforded a peaceful environment to analyze the budget as the treasury benches had ample opportunity to respond to him.
It is strange that, on one hand, the Government expects the Opposition to do parliamentary politics but on the other its members don’t allow the Opposition to speak in Parliament.
The budget is debated to seek input from the elected members but muffling of the voices negates this objective.
