FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

Parades, pledges and salutes are symbolic of freedom and democracy. We saw that in plenty a day earlier on Pakistan Day (March 23). One day later we witnessed a large number of people of diverse origin turn up at the Assembly premises, from all over Pakistan with passion in their breasts, chanting Jeeay Bhutto and slogans of Nawaz Sharif Zindabad.
These sounds and resonance of democracy associated with the choice of people's representative government. It looked as if the public were expecting good news. They were not disappointed.
The triumphant entry of Bilawal Zardari, guided by an official of National Assembly's sergeant-at-arms also portrayed the symbolic return of power to the masses, sanctified by many drops of tears as Bilawal wept at the moment when the PPP and coalition candidate, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was declared the Leader of the House, after receiving 264 votes.
The standing ovation, with nearly all members standing up as Bilawal entered the Assembly Chamber foretold the story that the House would repose its full confidence in Yousaf Raza, and he would be declared as the member 'enjoying confidence of the majority in the House.'
Nevertheless the symbolism of democratic procedure of holding a contest has to be maintained, in the form of contender, Pervez Elahi Chaudhry, who received only 42 votes, out of total membership of 342.
For some time there was discipline and pin drop silence when Madame Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, explained the voting procedure and how members should proceed to one of the two galleries to cast their vote, either in favour of Yousaf Raza Gilani, or his opponent, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. She even mentioned of the time of filing nomination papers.
However, after she declared Yousaf Raza as the Leader of the House, and asked him to occupy the chair of the Leader of the House, the galleries burst out with shouts of Jeeay Bhutto, and return slogans of Nawaz Zindabad, though The leader was absent. A sense of bedlam prevailed in the galleries, which the lady Speaker could not control.
Amin Fahim stood up to remind her to keep the discipline and decorum in the House. She responded in the same spirit, asking for excuse that it was the first day and the people were expressing their sense of release from being kept cloistered under heavy hands.
An exhilarating moment came after the Leader of the House, in his maiden address, thanked Bilawal, Asif Zardari, Madame Speaker, his coalition partners, and the Opposition. He then proclaimed his four point agenda of the day, asking the Assembly to adopt a resolution for investigation of the assassination of Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto, under UN auspices. A second resolution to express public apology to the people of Pakistan for judicial execution of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
In the third resolution the Leader of the House asked the Assembly to express support to the Murree Accord as well as the Charter of Democracy. Most importantly, he ordered immediate release of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other incarcerated justices.
About the last point, Yousaf Raza appealed to the incarcerated judges to await appropriate steps for the Parliament to initiate. One immediately witnessed the barbed wire at the Judges Colony being cleared. People's processions, with drums beating and dancing bhangra, and carrying national flags soon showed up at the Judges Colony to celebrate the judges liberty.
Appropriately, Aitzaz Ahsan, who led a fervent struggle on behalf of the judges, was there to join the public in celebrating this joyous freedom. The Chief Justice also made his first appearance after spending four months behind barred door and windows. In showing up at the Judges Colony the people had spoken loud and clear that the urge for freedom was deeply rooted in them and this quality towered over temporary difference of opinions. As Yousaf Raza remarked in his speech, 'It is a historical moment which happened after sacrifices and after martyrs had shed blood for the cause.'
Was the President listening to the loud message coming from the Parliament, or from the surrounding streets? That message was repeated by Muslim League leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who appealed to the new Leader of the House to stick to the agreed deadline of 30 days, for restoration of the judiciary.
However, ANP leader, Asfandyar Wali Khan, tired of mayhems in his province perpetrated by suicide bombers and the militants asked for return of books and satchels to young students. As he put it, 'the bullets cutting down the lives of our children and youths comes from Pakistan, and those killed also come from the same nation.' His emotional speech struck a chord in many hearts.
The opposition leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi reiterated the well known postulate that democracy envisaged to put up a different perspective and that he had done even though he was aware what the result would be. His position was that the co-operation to the armed forces as well as for the nuclear structures of the country should remain undisturbed.
In addition MQM leader Farooq Sattar who assured his co-operation to the would be government, asserted that the government should take steps haltingly in full view of difficulties ahead.
Earlier, the PPP leader Amin Fahim came to the Parliament to repeat that he had come only to vote for Yousaf Raza Gilani who was his brother and friend. He was happy that he was persevering in the ARD for a long time for the return of democracy. 'It is a day for rejoicing that democracy had returned.' Asked whether he would continue politics he replied he would be taking part in politics for the sake of Pakistan. But would it be in the PPP?
Yes, PPP was his party but he quoted rather two laconic verses: 'Hazrat Dagh Jahan baith gaey, baith gaye.' It does portend a wounded heart. Tuesday morning Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani would take oath as the 24th Prime Minister, the one elected by the people, not a nominated Prime Minister.