FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

An interesting situation has arisen for the first time in the history of Pakistan Parliament. Sher Afgan, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs has posted a notice of breach of privilege against Pemra and the cabinet division on their neglect in furnishing relevant information about six adjournment motions.
These motions were to be discussed on Thursday and related to the restrictions Pemra had placed on a number of private channels, such as Aaj and Royal, to broadcast current affairs programmes.
The minister, addressing a press conference at the conclusion of Friday session, informed the media of his unprecedented action in serving the privilege motion against the two government departments.
The Pemra was able to avoid discussion on the adjournment motion but could not escape the strictures from parliamentary affairs minister. The minister was piqued since morning with the cabinet division for their failure to brief him on a matter that had created uproar.
In fact, since morning he was pressing Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain to issue notices of contempt of Parliament on these two departments. However, Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain felt it was a matter between two government departments and for this purpose called Minister Sher Afgan, Chief Whip of the PML-Q Nasrullah Dreshak, Parliamentary Secretary Cabinet Firdaus Ashiq Awan, Pervez Ashraf, Asdaullah Bhutto as well as Ishrat Ashraf to a meeting in his chamber.
In fact, the minister had also sensed that some fishy things were afoot between Parliamentary Secretary Firdaus Awan and Pemra authorities (He used the word Chakkar).
He was sore that the Pemra organisation had been looking the other way as regards the adjournment motions that ought to have been dealt with expeditiously.
At one time, Parliamentary Secretary Firdaus Awan tried to cover the matter on the pretext that she had received the notice (of the adjournment motion) at 11 night. However, the Speaker himself corrected the matter saying that his office had the notice sent at 1330 hours.
The Speaker also observed that ministries and divisions should apply themselves promptly without waiting for a notice from the Assembly, which only sends notices as a matter of courtesy.
Similarly, the two motions regarding the ban of PIA flights imposed by the European Union as well as the law minister's resolution on the (unseemly!) conduct of the Opposition on the judiciary issue were passed over, though Raja Pervez Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kia, and Khwaja Asif promptly brought up the subject.
Khwaja Asif was irked that the law minister brought the resolution three days ago accusing the Opposition of taking it on the streets and politicising the issue, and was avoiding it. Was the minister aware that a few days ago the President had called in press reporters and some editors and columnist and given them a number of documents containing allegations against the Chief Justice? The President had suggested to the journalists to use the ammunition without naming him (the President) as the source.
Minister Wasi Zafar was unimpressed, and merely retorted, "The Opposition is not serious it simply wanted one more opportunity for indulging in politics." On Friday, Sherry Rehman created a stir by announcing that she would return her pay for the session because she could not carry on the function as MNA when denied freedom to express the sovereign will of her constituents.
Later, she told Business Recorder, "a situation had arisen since March 9 in the country and as consequence thereof 13 judges had resigned due to unilateral executive power and the law minister's reluctance to discuss the ramifications of the reference sent to the Supreme Judicial Council by the President."
Friday's proceedings also brought out the thoughtfulness of a number of members who take interest in promoting intellectual discourses among people and students through books, libraries, sports and promotion of tourism.
Yasmeen Rahman was perturbed that the Islamabad Public Library was to be located at the F-9 Fatima Jinnah Park, some 20 years ago but the same plot was given over to the Nazria Pakistan Council without an alternative plot allotted to the Library?
Sabir Awan took interest in sports activities across the country, but more particularly of his Fata area. Minister Shabaz Chaudhry who responded to the question on behalf of the sports minister, was of the opinion that grooming of sports should begin at schools, but this had gone out of fashion. He suggested the establishment of academies to provide training in sports, but was sad that the money allocated for the promotion of sports was small in relation to the need.
It also transpired from the discussion held in the House that the tiff between the federation and the federating units, especially NWFP, governed by MMA, had not subsided, if some of the points raised by a number of MNAS, are any indication.
Maulana Shah Abdul Aziz, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Samia Raheel Qazi, Maulana Abdul Akbar, and Maulana Chitrali were complaining of delay in the provision of electricity, gas and drinking water. Maulana Abdul Aziz drew the Speaker's attention to the promise of gas connections made to the people when the President visited Karak on February 26.
Amir Moquim Khan, president of the PML in the NWFP was an impediment in these facilities taking shape in non-Muslim League members areas. Parliamentary Secretary Rao Ajmal denied the charge and said both the President and the Prime Minister were keen on development of backward areas. The National Assembly witnessed Speaker making a remark about the absence of ministers and parliamentary secretary from the House.
At one point, the Speaker also passed over a number of questions when members who had raised the question were absent. He remarked he had done this to inculcate a sense of seriousness and expected members to be present, during the Question Hour.