FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

The civil servants should not speak the truth and those dare must be made an example for others, suggested apparently a privilege motion Pakistan Muslim League-Q Raza Hayat Hiraj moved against the DCO Khanewal for making a statement. The DCO said that rulers are responsible for the suffering of the people of Khanewal and no one would deny that it is their responsibility and for this people elect them.
Hayat was enraged because he represented the constituency as Minister for the last five years. He did not disprove DCO statement all that made him upset why such a statement he made. The PML-Q leader made a detailed account that he breached privilege of the member and the National Assembly and must be taught a lesson while referring to public service rules that shut him from making any statement.
Subsequently unopposed motion was referred to the concerned Standing Committee for investigation and reporting back. To my wonder not a word of objection was said and even those who always crossed examined Musharraf and his coterie holding them responsible for increasing masses suffering remained silent.
A good leader always accepts reality and tries to do better. Admittedly, the rulers are responsible for all the miseries of masses. Political leadership has repeatedly disappointed people and no one knows how long they would continue to do so as presently no sign of change is in the sight.
By the way we may end up with another disappointment soon. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) handed over a bill to the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP). An hour long meeting between the leaders of PML-N and PPP was held in the office of leader of the House in the Senate Raza Rabbani with media standing in the corridor guessing as to what would be the outcome of this parley. It was not long ago that two parties had series of meetings on constitutional package that eventually broke up their alliance. So deep they differ with each other and it would be unwise to hope they would come up with a consensus bill.
Even the media people were sceptical that both the parties would strike a consensus bill and why should not they be as it covered all the parlays between the two parties since February last year. "Would you implement Charter of Democracy (CoD) for the eternal peace of late Benazir Bhutto's soul" was the immediate question Rabbani has to face after the media talk. Similar question "would you like PPP to fishing it (bill)" was asked from the PML-N. PML-N Senator told media along with Ashan Iqbal, Raza Rabbani and Babar Awan that they have handed over bill to the PPP of 18th Constitutional Amendment for the reversal of 17 Amendment which he said was inserted in the Constitution by the Military dictator Musharraf to legitimise his rule.
Dar also referred to the CoD and commitment of late Benazir Bhutto about its implementation and said his party would intend to repeal the whole bill except a few good things, which were also in the manifesto of his party. Political parties carry heavy manifesto, which they never intend to implement. He handed over podium to Rabbani with thanks but his last sentence carried both if and but because he said 'if' PPP agrees with their bill it would go through. So they began with clear uncertainty of if and but.
Rabbani also referred to his own party constitutional package that resulted in break up of PPP-PML-N alliance. He said his party had circulated a bill among the political parties in July last for their input to bring about constitutional amendment. He also mentioned of similar bill of other political parties and said efforts would be to bring a consensus bill. The one referred by the PML-N, he said would be put up to his party parliament committee for looking into it.
Babar Awan said they have not yet go through the bill of the PML-N but spoke of his mind and said the need is to go even further back and clean up should be started from General Zia-ul-Haq time. Is PPP divided on the issue? Reports suggest that a PPP meeting chaired by the Prime Minister was clearly divided and majority of the Parliamentarians wanted CoD implementation. Ahsan Iqbal said that only swift implementation of the CoD would steer the country out from prevailing crisis. He suggested that those parts on which all the parties are agreed should be implemented imperiously to put the country back on parliamentary system of the government.