President's address

The Constitution envisages the office of the President above and beyond the parliamentary turmoil, for he represents the 'unity of the federation' and in terms of political affiliation ceases to be a party man. However, such is the constitutional scheme that the presidential election is contested on a party ticket, a label that sticks given the contentious nature of our national politics. And over time he too tends to forfeit some of his neutrality; in fact, he can even retain party office - an anomaly purposefully overlooked by the framers of the 18th Constitutional Amendment. So it was obvious that President Mamnoon Hussain would get rough deal when he comes to the joint sitting of parliament to deliver his constitutionally-mandated address. The opposition parties had been rolling up their sleeves, some proposing for total boycott, some for a token walkout and some for pandemonium. But, surprisingly, there were no fireworks, unlike the 'Go Baba Go' cries and jingle of broken bangles in the past. If credit should go to anyone for this commotion-free joint sitting it goes to Syed Khurshid Shah, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, whose commitment to democratic continuum is simply unparalleled. With PPP, MQM and JUI (F) opting to remain seated and attentive, for Imran's PTI, staying in the house was a better choice than exposing its go-it-alone position. But this was only as far as members of National Assembly were concerned; the opposition in the Senate that is numerically almost twice the size of the government strength, boycotted Mamnoon Hussain's great day, its action not too justifiable. The Opposition Senators are angry with the Prime Minister but they penalised the President. Admitted, it is colossal disregard of democratic spirit that you don't want to come to the Senate just because you don't have your men in there, but the Opposition Senators boycotted the presidential address which has only symbolic significance; it is a time-honoured practice of parliamentary democracies. Precedents, customs, and traditions are critical to working of a functional democracy if not more.
What President Mamnoon Hussain said in his relatively short, prosaic, but well-delivered, half an hour address to the joint sitting of parliament on Monday is not very different from the sum total of the daily mantra of the government. In line with the set pattern, the address had two distinct parts, first covers Pakistan's foreign relations and the second is focused on national issues. However, put on one piece of canvass some kind of totality of a picture emerges, which to some extent is evasive on the existing realities but is quite promising about the future. It also throws up, not-so-far well-articulated, fears and apprehensions. The President was well on the dot by expecting the detractors of Sharif government to shun 'opposition for the sake of opposition' and respect the mandate given to the government by the people of Pakistan. His lavish praise for the parliament for its work over the outgoing year was a bit cheeky and unjustified. How can you admire a legislative house for its 'nil' performance? He dispelled the lingering gossip of 'differences' between the government and the armed forces; appreciated the military's vital role in augmenting internal security, but with a caveat that due regard would be given to democratic values cherished by free people. But it was his emphatically expressed commitment to complete the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline that raised quite a few eyebrows. If there were any confusion about the government's position on Kashmir the President tried to remove it by reiterating Pakistan's stated position that the dispute should be resolved in the light of UN resolutions and wishes of Kashmiri people. All of what the President said in his speech is already in public knowledge; except for his prognosis that high on the PML (N)-led government's agenda are economy, infrastructure and human capital. It is going to be home-bound with focus trained on strengthening internal security for it is a prerequisite for foreign investment, improving energy situation, producing a richer crop of educated manpower and equal opportunity for the women. Not much he said is unrealistic or uncalled for; how far is it realisable that's in the realm of the unknown future.