FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

Even a moment can be a lifetime in politics. If cashes on intelligently, it turns tables and changes fates overnight. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi sounds well aware of the fact. And why shouldn't he be. After all, it is his moment in Pakistan besieged politics.
Hashmi remained defiant all four years down the line he spent behind the bars for challenging military rule. The price is acceptability all around even among enemies as claimed by himself. More than half of pro-military parliamentarians are so courageous that they can resign to hinder Musharraf seeking another term as president, so he claimed on Tuesday to panic ruling coalition.
First reaction came from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afghan Khan in the National Assembly on Wednesday. He sought proof from Hashmi. Afghan said it was totally baseless. Whether a reality (seems impossible) or just a political stunt, the claim will surely force Musharraf and his political supporters spend some more sleepless nights.
Otherwise in the National Assembly, the government once again succumbed to quorum problem and delayed the winding up of a three-day debate amid severe criticism from treasury and opposition benches over country's foreign policy. Javed Hashmi, the other day, claimed that more than 50 percent of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League members have submitted their resignations to him and wanted to join PML-N.
Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Hashmi said he owns his statement and the time will tell how many ruling parliamentarians were going to quit the ruling PML, a blow to President Musharraf's plan to seek re-election from the present assemblies.
Meanwhile, the government failed to wind up the ongoing debate on foreign policy with particular reference to statements of US presidential candidates and threats of military intervention in Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri attended the afternoon session to conclude the debate but thin presence of treasury members diminished government's hope of smooth winding up of the heated deliberations.
There were hardly 30 treasury members besides a dozen opposition members to complete the quorum of the house. Speaker Amir Hussain gained some time by allowing members from both sides of the aisle to bring in minimum required members but he failed to do so. All of a sudden, Sher Afghan Niazi intervened and moved a motion designed to extend the debate for one more day.
Earlier, ruling members kept on grilling the government and called for a review of its relations with the United States in wake of threatening statements by US presidential candidates to use military force inside Pakistan.
A day after defence parliamentary secretary's fiery speech against the US, another treasury member Ijaz Chaudhry blasted White House hopefuls on Wednesday. "I ask them (US forces) to come here (in Pakistan). We don't want to fight with our own people. I challenge they would never dare to step in here," he said angrily.
About the US financial aid, he said the government should categorically refuse to accept it. "We should get rid of the US conditional aid. We don't need that." He also supported the religio-political alliance.
Speaking about the PPP-government deal, Chaudhry said he would welcome the deal if it was being done to restore democracy in the country. "I welcome this deal if it is aimed at restoration of democracy but if this is in connection with the US agenda I strongly condemn it," he said.
Ijaz Chaudhry said the American empire was about to sink therefore Pakistan should not be scared of its threats. "I urge President Musharraf not to meet low level US officials like Richard Boucher," he appealed. He also reacted angrily over one of US presidential candidates statement about bombing Muslims holy sites, saying one billion Muslims would become suicide bombers to take revenge.
The other opposition as well as treasury members condemned statements by US officials and presidential candidates and called for a shift in country's foreign policy.