The lawmakers in the Senate on Tuesday lambasted the government for 'deliberately' delaying new National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and staged a walkout in protest against the unsatisfactory response from the Finance Minister. They declared the delay in NFC new award a sheer violation of the Constitution and accused the PMLN government of being 'non-serious.' They said that the government which often talks tall is not serious about a genuine issue [NFC] and these kinds of delaying tactics are a well thought-out conspiracy to weaken the Federation.
However, the government representative disagreed with the notion as Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources spoke on behalf of the finance minister responding to a calling attention notice, moved by PPPP Senators Sassui Palijo and Mukhtar Ahmad Dhamra, who alleged the government was following a policy aimed at weakening the Federation by denying what belongs to the provinces under the NFC. Abbasi said that the NFC Award would be announced with consensus among the provinces.
To him, there was nothing unconstitutional behind the delay that, he said, had been witnessed in the past, as well.
Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani insisted the delay was in violation of the Constitution. He cited the Article 160 saying the Constitution is clear on the matter. "Since the expiry of the previous NFC award's term, each passing day shows violation of the Constitution," he said, adding that the NFC is the very foundation of the federalism. Palijo and Dhamra said that the finance minister had promised last year that the new NFC Award would be announced before the budget, but now again, the budget in June might be unveiled without the new Award.
The PPPP senators emphasised that without the judicious share of the provinces under the award, the budget would be hollow, as already despondency is spreading among the three smaller provinces, which continue to suffer for the last two years and have been demanding of the Centre to announce new NFC Award. Leader of Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan grilled the minister for referring to the past practices of delaying NFC Award, saying if there had been constitutional violations in the past, what message he was giving to the provinces by making them precedent for now.
"NFC in the Constitution is a basic element of the federal system. Therefore, the commission must make an early announcement because it is the right of the provinces to make their budgets keeping in view their share in the NFC Award," he noted. PTI's Azam Swati also wanted to speak to present Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's viewpoint on the matter, but the chair reminded him that his name was not included in the notice.
Abbasi argued that a commission is already working on the reports of the working groups. He said that life of an NFC Award is five years; however, the NFC Award announcement is not mandatory hence it would be made public after evolving consensus on it. He also made it clear that the government was serious in the matter and the NFC Commission held its last meeting on December 19 last year. He said that till the new award is announced, the scheme of things would continue as such.
Later, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz informed the Senate that Pakistani eunuch Muhammad Amin died in Saudi Arabia due to cardiac arrest. "The eunuch was illegally staying in Saudi Arabia and used to organise dance parties at guesthouses in violation of the Saudi laws," he said responding to a point of public importance raised by Farhatullah Babar of the PPP, adding that the Saudi authorities had raided the guesthouses from where 35 persons, including some members of transgender community, were arrested. He said that Pakistan's Community Attaché immediately contacted the Saudi authorities and 29 persons were released while five were under investigation.
The advisor explained that the eunuch was a heart patient and that fact has also been reported by his colleagues that he had undergone surgery, earlier. However, he added they had sought medical report of the deceased.
"He died during custody and we have asked for the medical report to ascertain whether or not he bore any kind of torture," he maintained. He said his body was flown to Pakistan free of charges through Pakistan International Airlines while the government is making efforts for release of remaining captives. The advisor said if the arrested people are being investigated under the Saudi laws for their involvement in illegal activities, there is no question of lodging any protest.
"However, if any unlawful treatment would have been meted out to them, we shall definitely talk to the Saudi authorities," he assured. The chair feared that physical beating could be the reason of heart attack. Senator Babar insisted that the Foreign Office must have sent a note of displeasure to the Saudi authorities and proposed to refer the matter to the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs or Human Rights Committee. However, Rabbani observed that he could not refer the matter to the committee, but if the committee desires so, it could take up the issue.
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