FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

It is a general perception that politicians always like to speak. The switching on of mikes in front of them in the Parliament House evokes some more interest. Sometimes, they behave irrationally and try to speak first with the claim that the issue that they are raising is more important than the issues being raised by other members of parliament (MPs).
This was what happened in the National Assembly on Monday. Some opposition MNAs were trying to raise issues on Point of Order and they were not listening to Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, who instructed them to wait for their turn.
This has provided a justification to the Deputy Speaker to adjourn the session immediately after the question-hour was over. Whatever was the motive behind this move, the government was saved from an imminent embarrassment as the PML (Q) legislators were eager to put the government to task on fire incident in Rawalpindi's Ghakhar Plaza and PML (N) MNA Abid Sher Ali wanted to raise the case of Abdul Hameed Dogar's daughter.
Many will think that the opposition members rescued the government from facing an embarrassing situation. Abid Sher Ali, who heads the NA Standing Committee on Education, later talked to the reporters that the only reason the government adjourned the session in haste was to stop him from making any point on CJ's daughter on the Floor of the House. "I was about to raise this issue as the government blocked the proceedings of the committee," said Abid. The situation could take some further twists in future as a lawyer filed a petition in the Lahore High Court challenging the Abid's qualification. He is also accused of manufacturing spurious drugs.
PML (Q) MNA Riaz Hussain Pirzada raised the issue of oath taking of advisors. The advisors are having dual nationalities. Most of them are not enrolled in electoral list. Yet, they are under any compulsion of taking oath of their offices, he said. It is the time to go to Senate session, in which some thought provoking speeches were made. It is always said that Mushahid Hussain Sayed is a genius man, but is in wrong place. He made some points that must be admired and viewed as good suggestions. Some of anti-government comments, he made in between, could be ignored because a legislator from opposition always think it is binding on him to question the government capability and credibility.
He called for proactive diplomacy to counter the Indian propaganda. "The government must tell the world that Pakistan has been the major victim of terrorism. Only this year, 600 terrorism-related incidents took place in Pakistan. This is not an exaggeration. This is the truth and this fact should become a strong point in Pakistan diplomatic offensive against India," he said.
Maulana Masood Azhar, the leader of banned Jaish-e-Muhammad, was detained in Indian jail for three years. But during this period, the Indian authorities never framed a formal charge sheet against him. Three year is a very long period and India should have done something at that time. India expects us to do the same in few weeks. If India alleges that Pakistan created Taliban-like organisations, then our government must tell the world that which was the force behind the formation of Mukti Bahini in the then East Pakistan, which is now known as Bangladesh, said Mushahid.
It will not be out of context to mention here that the PML (Q) senator presented solid arguments when he pleaded Pakistan case against India. But when it comes to some grievances of China and Iran against certain elements inside Pakistan, the legislator was toeing the line of Beijing and Tehran. He said Iran has certain objections on Jandullah, operating mainly in Balochistan. China has also some strong reservations. These reservations must be removed. Here, one could have argued that if Pakistan is responsible country, then why is our time-tested friend China is complaining. There is something, which must be done to end feuds with all neighbouring countries.
When Mushahid referred to the formation of national government for steering the country out of the crisis, the treasury benches looked disturbed. This has prompted Raza Rabbani, Leader of the House in Senate, to respond this assertion immediately. Mushahid was hardly back in his seat and Rabbani was quick to reject some of Mushahid assertions.
He said that all the national institutions are reading from the same page on the issue of national security. There is absolutely no difference of opinion. We are talking from the position of strength. We are not under any fear. The closed-door diplomacy is going on. Being responsible party, the PPP will not indulge in blame game initiated by India.
His comments that formation of national government is a premature idea created a rift in the press gallery. Some said that Rabbani rejected the idea. Others said the idea was not rejected and Rabbani's assertion was meant that it could be given a shape when it gets mature.
Rabbani was back on his seat when Senator of the government allied party ANP Haji Muhammad Adeel questioned the government policy in Swat. "Just pull out the army out from Swat, and leave us at the mercy of Taliban. The military presence solves nothing. Its presence complicates the issue. The only thing the army does is imposition of curfew. This provides opportunity to Taliban to do whatever they are pleased to do. The army was nothing more than a silent spectator when our leaders were butchered by the Taliban," he said.