FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

Time is pulling Awami National Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz apart as uproar was witnessed on Thursday in the National Assembly when harsh words were exchanged between the members of both the parties, who have yet to build consensus on the new name of NWFP. The blame game started today with the quoting of some news reports alleging Punjab Police of arresting the people of NWFP.
The pandemonium was created in the lower house of the Parliament immediately after question hour session when Syed Haider Ali Shah of ANP said on the floor of the House, raising a newspaper in his hand that according to reports Punjab Police has started crackdown against the people of Pukhtoonkhwa, which does not seems real to the extent of twin cities as a lot of Pushtoon brothers are staying here since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and more poured in during recent war on terror. But their brothers in Punjab are giving them full co-operation. ANP was too emotional and created an issue out of a non-issue when its members went to the extent of raising slogans of shame, shame targeting Punjab, especially PML-N lawmakers. Syed Haider Ali of ANP even wanted ruling of the Speaker in this regard.
He threatened walk out, claiming that only Pakhtoons were being targeted, but this not the case checking identity of people in any province is the right of the government and NWFP government is taking more precautionary measures in this connection. This statement of the members that 'action is being taken against Pakhtoons being Pakhtoons was somewhat emotional and not based on the real information, but only a news report.
These remarks against the Punjab government agitated a PML-N MNA Abid Sher Ali, known as being vocal among the young lawmakers, who described it as a conspiracy against the very interests of the Punjab government. He became furious and stood from his seat with the remarks that the ruling coalition is trying to create differences among the province, which is dangerous for the very existence of Pakistan.
This episode disturbed the atmosphere of the House as young members of ANP and PML-N stood up at their seats and started levelling allegations and counter allegations. The senior members of the both parties at loggerhead along with Pakistan People Party (PPP) tried to cool down the tempers but in vain.
Sensing the chaotic situation, PPP senior lawmaker advised the Speaker to adjourn the house for sometime and the Speaker took no time to act on his advice.
When the house met again after interval of more than half an hour, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed of PML-N proposed the house to constitute a committee for probing this incident as such incidents create gulf among the federating units.
He suggested that being mature parliamentarians, the MPs should not have flared up the situation to such an extent merely on a news report and if there were some complaints, the House should form a committee, adding that the Pakhtoon member should withdraw his words against Punjab province to resolve the issue once and for all.
The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms has given the mandate of renaming NWFP to both the parties at war today, how they could develop consensus on such an important issue if they have lack of trust to such an extent. The Interior Minister assured the House that a report about this incident should be submitted to the House today (Thursday). What message we are giving to terrorists by fighting each other.
Sahibzada Haji Fazl Karim demanded of the Prime Minister to take action against the banned religious outfits if they are involved in anti-state activities and also set up a house committee to probe into incidents of Karachi, Peshawar, D I Khan and attack on Eid-Milad procession.
Pakistan is passing through a critical phase of its history and facing many challenges such as law and order, price hike and energy shortage but our parliamentarians are busy in blame game to divert people's attention from the real issues. The people have elected them to resolve their problems but they are not paying any heed to them and are busy in point scoring.
Today session's time was consumed in hullabaloo and the House could take up only one calling attention notice due to the lacklustre behaviour of the members. It was also observed that most of the senior members even opposition leader often remains absent from the House. On the other hand million of rupees of public money is spent on one session of the Parliament.