FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

The 56th session of the Senate opened on Friday with opposition demanding a policy statement by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on what they termed most scornful attack on Pakistan sovereignty in the form of Kerry-Lugar bill. As expected, the opposition members, taking the presence of Prime Minister as God gifted opportunity, raised the issue without wasting a moment.
They raised the matter saying they would like to have policy statement from the Prime Minister, whose response might have disappointed them when he said a statement would come from the Foreign Minister after the bill is signed by US President Barack Obama.
Since approval of Kerry-Lugar bill from the US Senate, a discussion as to what impact it would have on Pakistan was going on and those who have studied it are convinced that this is tantamount to mortgaging Pakistan's sovereignty, and dignity and allows US to have micro-management of the country affairs. This of course was described as a very serious matter which needs immediate discussion and a policy statement by the government to explain its point of view on the reported conditionalities. The official line after brief comments by the Prime Minister seems unlikely. However, the Senate would have a debate on the issue on Tuesday, Senate Farooq H Naek said. This seems to have been agreed during the meeting of Business Advisor Committee ahead of the proceedings.
The opposition members wanted debate on the bill before it was signed by the US President to convey to the US that annual aid of $1.5 billion for the next five years was not acceptable to Pakistan with such harsh conditions. Wasim Sajjad of PML (Q) who is opposition leader in the Senate, said it would be meaningless and waste of time to debate the bill after US President's signature because inking by him would make it an irreversible law.
A debate before Obama's approval was important to convince him to send it back to the US Congress for amendments in the conditions as these are not acceptable to the recipient in the present form.
According to him, the bill with the present conditionalities is a threat to the survival and sovereignty of Pakistan. Same views have been expressed by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) Senator Ishaq Dar who wanted a unanimous stance on the matter after through in House discussion and analysis of each and every clause of the bill to convey the nation's sentiments more effectively. Zafar ul Haq deplored the dichotomy in Pakistan's policy over drone attacks saying the attacks are taking place with government consent but apparently being opposed to satisfy the people.
Another important issue was raised by the Baloch senators on reports that US was contemplating drone attack in Quetta, questioning the government silence on the issue. Hasil Khan Bizenjo and Abdul Rahim Khan Mandokhel accused the government of being responsible for this grave situation. They were of the view that the government should have taken note of the allegations relating to Taliban presence in Quetta and should have taken action if these were genuine otherwise should have conveyed to the world community in black and white that the allegations are baseless. But the government preferred to remain silent.
A timely response, they said, by the government would have not provided an opportunity to the US of going to the extent of mulling over the drone attacks on Quetta. Hasil also referred to a recently held meeting to this effect in the State Department chaired by Obama on this specific matter that entire Taliban leadership including Mulla Omer was hiding in Quetta. Such are the established manners of the US as prior to allowing drone attacks that a meeting is held in the State Department which follows by report in the New York Times. All this was happening for some time but the government is enjoying sweet slumber. He was also annoyed that the Prime Minister made a long speech on the energy and economic issues but said not a single word on reports of possible US drone attacks on Quetta.
The Prime Minister who stepped in the House during the question hour was confronted by a heated debate going on the financial viability of rental power plants and importance of the matter compelled him to take the floor immediately and explain the entire background sans anything new. For the first time Prime Minister made an admission that the government might not be able to overcome the power crisis by the earlier announced deadline by Minister for Water and Power Pervez Ashraf to ensure uninterrupted power in the country by December.
The Prime Minister said his minister was oblivious of making political statements and went on saying that instead of saying that power crisis would end by December 2009, the Minister should have said that all possible efforts would be made to overcome the power crisis.
This clearly indicated that the power crisis would not end by December and people might have to suffer for another summer. The Upper House would also debate the issue of rental power plant after the National Assembly as the chair conceded to a request of members and the Minister. The Prime Minister sought support from the opposition to resolve the energy crisis because this was the grave concern for the nation as well as his government.
The House was informed about the setting up of Thar Energy Development Board (TEDB) to exploit the vast coal reservoirs and assured that government would be able to get about 4000 MW electricity from coal. The Prime Minister also offered to step down if his or Minister's removal from the office would solve the ongoing power crisis. The government is yet to fulfil a lot of promises made to the nation and need to act quickly before it is too late as people are losing their patience.