FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

President Pervez Musharraf summons the sessions of both the Houses of the Parliament and prorogues them when their business is over.
On Wednesday, as the National Security Council Bill was passed posthaste two days ahead of the schedule National Assembly Speaker Amir Hussain had nothing left on his plate. But he could not prorogue the National Assembly because he did not have the presidential prorogation order.
Hence the Thursday sitting, which from the ringside presented a day-after scene in the bloodstained amphitheatre. Naturally the assembly secretariat was not prepared for business beyond the passage of the NSC Bill and it had to do a lightweight agenda.
It is another matter, however, that a calling attention notice on the "exorbitant price" paid by the PIA for the newly purchased Boeings-777s proved explosive with potential to throw up a serious corruption scandal.
The question hour was almost a non-event. The speaker, though often unnecessarily intrusive, appeared to be helping the novices to say their first words in the Parliament. And, when he tried to locate Sher Afgan who once again changed his seat and returned to the front row - to the dislike of his friends on the back benches - Amir Hussain offered "his prayer that two of the Afgan's fellow travellers may too get front row seats".
Since only ministers sit on the front seats and Sher Afgan is serious contender for the slot the speaker's wish that these two got the ministerial jobs smacked of black humour that fitted the otherwise empty day in the House.
The speaker at another occasion said: "The time reserved for the question hour is over, but I am going against the rules. I will commit one more violation, I give the floor to Ghafoor Haideri."
Acoustics on the House are not perfect. It seems there is also some kind of problem by the lighting system, because the speaker sometimes fail to catch the eye of a member much closer to him, while spotting someone quite in the rear back who is on his or her point of order.
A case in point was Zaib Gohar. For more than an hour she repeatedly raised her hand-shouting you do not expect from her, but Amir Hussain did not see her.
Other lady members who witnessed her being ignored continuously by the speaker probably felt her dilemma and moved into seats close to her. But the speaker even then ignored her and that dignified the member to finally accept her fate and dropped her hand and never raised again.
M.P. Bhandara, a stickler for rules, could take no more the speaker's light-hearted quips.
"Indiscipline is spreading in the House. For two hours I have been pressing my button. You give the mike to those who raise hue and cry. You must enforce discipline." But the problem that is become chronic is that Amir Hussain would give floor to a member, but hardly that member utters a word he would ask another to speak.
"Chalta Huon Thori Duor Har Aik Rahhro Kay Saath, Paechanta Nahin Hoon Abhi Hamsafar Ko Main."
From Friday the Senate is going to meet, mainly to pass the National Security Council Bill which had already been adopted by the National Assembly. It would be repeat performance of what happened in the Lower House.
As soon as the Senate is through with its motions the President would sign it and it would become an act of the Parliament.
The Senate apparently has no business at its hands. But the session may continue beyond the time when the National Security Council Bill is passed.