There was lack of interest in treasury as well as opposition benches in the legislative business of the lower house of the parliament after the government's wise retreat on National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) because it simply did not have the numbers any more. Senior government and opposition parliamentarians were absent from the proceedings.
Mainly women on special seats and some backbenchers were present in the house. Most missed was Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, the fiery leader of the opposition well known for his hawkish views. However his absence from parliament is not a rarity and he attends only when a major issue is to be raised in the house.
No one has yet pointed out to the worthy parliamentarian that if he is genuinely supportive of ensuring that parliament is supreme, then he must attend more sessions than he has been known to do. And if you are the leader of the opposition in a parliament that is still trying to find its footing, it is critical to attend all the sessions.
However Chaudhary Sahib has his own style and pattern of behaviour. He comes only when the agenda contains a major issue that can be used to embarrass the government, socialises with both sides of the house, is extremely articulate in his denunciations and often leaves the house after his speech. While whatever speech comes after his is either less fiery or in defence yet a parliamentary tradition needs to be established.
What must be overwhelmingly supported is the attendance record of Prime Minister. Yousuf Raza Gilani has set a standard, which one hopes would be followed not only by his successors, but also all members of the august house. The Prime Minister on Thursday expressed his reservations on the much maligned "Prevention of Electronic Crime Bill, 2009".
Newspapers abroad had used the introduction of this bill to taunt President Asif Ali Zardari for not being democratic enough to take jokes of which he was the target. PM Gilani directed the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Interior to withdraw the bill and referred it again to the committee for further deliberation.
The Prime Minister also directed the Information Ministry to repeal all draconian amendments of November 3, 2007 in Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory (Pemra) bill, which were enacted during a dictator's era. All those present gave a loud thumping in support of the Prime Minister. All parliamentarians now routinely stand up as a mark of respect when the PM enters the house.
The issue of missing persons and Dr Aafia Siddiqui once again echoed in the National Assembly. Mamoona Hashmi of PML-N demanded of the government to expedite its work for the recovery of missing persons and the return of Dr Aafia to Pakistan. Dr Babar Awan assured the house that the Prime Minister raised this issue before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her recent visit to Pakistan.
He said that the government had provided one million dollars to the family of Dr Aafia Saddiqui for legal assistance. In Friday proceeding, there were two call attention notices: innocent minors in prison in Adiala jail, Rawalpindi, as well as non-availability of facilities to children of convicted mothers in different jails in the country; and incidents of theft in Utility Stores and government warehouses.
"The Public Defender and Legal Aid Office Bill" for providing free legal assistance to the indigent in the house was deferred till Tuesday due to objections raised by the opposition on the grounds that it was purely a provincial matter. Two days running, the opposition demanded a discussion on the prevailing law and order situation in the country; discussion on the issue commenced on Friday, however, only one woman member, Tahira Aurangzeb of PML-N, participated. She alleged that India and the US are involved in a conspiracy to destabilise Pakistan.
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