FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

In the Baghdad of yore years Shehrzad had to tell a story, never told before, every night to be able to survive another night. That perhaps is the lot of the hacks who cover the Byzantine politics of Pakistan and the role its chameleon players act out.
By Tuesday evening, the balance of speculation was in favour of Zafarullah Khan Jamali's ouster. But within half a day of the stories of gloom and doom being told about him, the Wednesday morning brought the tidings that he was out of the woods. It was said the ruling coalition members had expressed confidence in his leadership and he assured them there was no misunderstanding between him and his "boss" and that there was no threat to his government. How durable that optimism is? one would know tomorrow, as tomorrow would bring its own rainbow of hope and despair.
As the thick smell of lunches and dinners permeates the corridors of the parliament building-the members and media men are being served free meals on the premises to ensure their presence-the federal budget is undergoing its second reading.
The solid majority on the treasury benches has rejected scores of cut motions by the opposition members. And as things stand today the possibility of government's defeat on a cut motion has evaporated in the wake of renewed confidence in the present leadership. That tends to strengthen the democratic process.
But there is a downside to this exercise also. Over 60 cut motions were targeted at the defence expenditure, a departure from the past when the defence budget was generally spared of this embarrassment. As the debate comprising the brief comments by the movers of cut motions progressed one could discern some common objections.
Firstly, now that peace with India, the main adversary, is being perused there is no need to increase the defence budget. Secondly, the nuclear capability of Pakistan should reduce dependence on conventional weapons, hence less money should go for new purchases.
Thirdly, the parliament should know details of the defence allocations and discuss them like other expenditures.
The villain of piece in this discussion was, however, the national carrier PIA. How come in India the intending pilgrims for Umrah and Haj get tickets on subsidised rates while here in the Islamic Republic the PIA fare for Haj have been raised.
Add to it the government assurance of not raising the Haj fares only a day before the PIA jacked them up. Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Major Tanveer Hussain (Retd) offered the naive explanation: I had stated the position of the day I spoke on it in the house. I cannot predict what would happen tomorrow.
Continuing his meetings with the members, President Musharraf on Wednesday met with the MQM members, who apprised him about their 'perceptions?' Later, talking to reporters Dr Farooq Sattar said rumours of Prime Minister Jamali's ouster have died. To another question, he replied that incidence of violence in Karachi is part of a conspiracy to weaken the Sindh government. As for the 'ultimatum' it is directed at "the powers that be, the Establishment, the Administration, and the allied parties have also been apprised of."
The much-maligned National Security Council will meet here for its first official meeting on Thursday, but the leader of opposition, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and NWFP Chief Minister Durrani will not participate. Prime Minister Jamali had made a special request to Fazlur Rahman to come to the meeting, but the Supreme Council of the MMA has decided to abstain.
MMA has two main objections. First, since the establishment of the Council was conceded in the framework of 17th constitutional amendment unless that law is fully implemented-which includes an unequivocal commitment on the part of Pervez Musharraf to doff his uniform- the MMA says it would be pointless to attend the meeting.
Second, the Council as structured and empowered would tend to act over and above the parliament MMA's participation would amount to compromising the concept of a sovereign parliament. Instead of the president the Prime Minister should head it, the MMA says further. However, the NSC can and will meet without the participation of the MMA, and legally it would be right. But that would not be enough given the ambience of our national politics.