FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza has requested media not to distort the image of politicians as they are being watched by the world community at large. She was talking to media at a luncheon she hosted for them after the National Assembly session in the Parliament House.
The politicians themselves need to improve their image and as far as media is concerned it was very supportive to the dawn of democracy in the country after the February 18 elections, but what should it do when the politicians did not come up to expectations of the people. Since coming into power of the democratic government the problems of people have further compounded and politicians were seen busy in mere rhetoric.
They have yet to move beyond the political statements and deliver to the people. An example of political promises was also echoed in the National Assembly on Friday. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has reiterated his 18-month old promise that his government would soon put in place an accountability system to bring about good governance in the country after opposition leader expressed serious concern over the government intention to fulfil the promise of making accountability a reality.
Rising on a point of order, leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan reminded the government that it has yet to fulfil the promise of setting up an independent accountability institution and proposed it should be headed by no less than a judge of superior court to ensure transparency.
This demand was being repeatedly made by the opposition; however, the government did nothing except reiterating the promise. Responding to his demand the Prime Minister sought PML-N suggestions for preparing a comprehensive bill acceptable to everyone across the political divide. Nisar also expressed concern about the prosecution procedure of the NRO beneficiaries in the absence of such an institution.
This is believed that the fate of the NRO beneficiaries would be decided by the Supreme Court after November 28 for which the court could evolve a mechanism. This mechanism, according to experts, could be either referring the cases to the existing courts or even the accountability or special courts could be set up.
What was overwhelmingly encouraging was the Prime Minister pledged to respect the verdict of the courts in the NRO cases and also apprised the House about that judicial inquiry has already been ordered into the incident of killing of an alleged suicide bomber in the Capital over the weekend. The opposition staged a walkout from the House alleging that the government has ruined all the democratic norms in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections to ensure victory of Pakistan Peoples Party.
The coalition partners did not share the rigging accusations and what was more surprising was that a few members of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) did not join the opposition walkout. They remained in the House while the Prime Minster took the floor to explain that every effort was put in place to hold free and transparent election in the Gilgit Baltistan, terming it a big success towards empowerment of the people of the area.
The opposition leader made some shocking remarks during his speech which one would not have expected from him in a House with a large number of female parliamentarians. Though Nisar was embarrassed and withdrew his remarks on realising what he has uttered in fluency, yet these remarks of course, have damaged his image not only among the female parliamentarians but also among his male colleagues. We heard people after the session murmuring that such comments would not have been made by a parliamentarian of his stature even in privacy.
The proceedings of the House started as usual late with 8-item agenda to take up questions before moving on to the call attention notice regarding unabated stone quarrying in Margalla Hills posing threat to the environment of the Capital and adjoining areas. Responding Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that 16 illegal stone crushers are working in Margalla Hills near Islamabad which would be closed down within two weeks.
He said Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICT) has taken over the charge of this area from the Punjab government in 1995 and cancelled 31 mining leases of stone crushers but 16 illegal crushers are still working and show-cause notices have been served on them. The House unanimously condemned the terrorist attacks in Peshawar and Bannu expressing solidarity with the armed forces and the people who have been sacrificing their lives for the sake of the country. The House was adjourned to meet again on Monday evening.