FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

By terming it defining moment for the nation, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan sought clear cut replies of the questions from the government about presidential ordinances regarding money bill, Raymond Davis, increase in petroleum prices and Charter of Democracy (CoD).
The Opposition Leader in his two hours speech in the Lower House of the Parliament on Presidential address to Joint sitting of Parliament also severely targeted the Law Minister without mentioning his name and asked treasury members that those who are sitting in the front row of the government should tender apology to the nation on double standards.
They showed pleasure and distributed sweets on hanging of former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and termed General Zia-Ul-Haq as martyr. The people who had said Ziaul-Haq as Shaheed are now pleading for reference to term the death of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as judicial murder. In this regard, the Opposition as proof put on record newspaper to show the Speaker.
The Opposition raised some questions in the Lower House of the Parliament and wanted their replies from the government within a week otherwise leader of the opposition said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would start protests in and outside the Parliament.
Why the government imposed taxes of Rs 52 billion through ordinances by-passing the Parliament? Nisar sought its reply. Nisar accused the government of usurping the rights of Parliament by promulgating ordinances to get through money bill.
The Opposition Leader said that reality should be brought before the nation about the people responsible for letting the murdered of two persons, Raymond Davis flee, whether it is federal government or Punjab government or other institution as his name was on Exist Control List (ECL). While referring to Punjab government, he said that in spite of pressure, the Punjab government had lodged FIR against Raymond Davis and completed challan within 14 days. Even, he claimed that the Prime Minister neither take the nation nor the Parliament into confidence on Raymond Davis issue. In this regard, the Opposition Leader also proposed the government to constitute Parliamentary Committee or Judicial Commission to investigate that who is responsible for escape of US official Raymond Davis.
When Nisar talked about recent increase in petroleum prices, all the members of PML-N stood up and raised slogans "petroleum prices unacceptable, petroleum prices unacceptable". He said that the government has colleted Rs 163 billion during six months as petroleum levy.
A defining movement has come for the assembly and now the President and Prime Minister has to fulfil their responsibilities, Opposition Leader made it clear. The Opposition said that there is need of grand reconciliation and proposed to constitute a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and all the political parties who had committed mistakes in the past should tender apology to the Nation.