Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan revels in defiance of all that constitutes normal human behaviour. Often to the bewilderment of his ministerial colleagues and fellow parliamentarians he would single-handedly tilt at anything that looks like a windmill.
So, it was no big surprise when he branded the people of Balochistan incompetent, while he was trying to defend the otherwise illegal and immoral recruitment policy of the PSO in the Senate on Tuesday evening.
A day before he had precipitated a walkout in the National Assembly when he said President Musharraf should not address an uncivilised house. The opposition in the Senate too staged a walkout, but not before a dire warning sounded by Senator Liaquat Bangelzai.
Bangelzai is one of the few staid members of the Upper House who, choosing his words carefully, often puts the issue under discussion in its historic perspective. As Sher Afgan was building a case of shortage of talent in Balochistan as the main cause for under-representation of residents of Balochistan in the federal government the opposition members refused to hear him.
"Sher Afgan knows nothing but volunteers to offer replies to all the questions. The relevant ministers should be present," Ismail Buledi said. Mohim Khan said, "We feel we have no representation in the federation." Kulsoom Perveen argued that the 'gap' that President Musharraf had admitted in terms of economic share of that province has not yet been filled.
"We will not compromise on the rights of the people of Balochistan," she added. Latif Ansari too complained of injustices meted out to the people of another province, Sindh.
Sher Afgan once again stood up to speak, but Buledi said the House would not like him to speak. Safdar Abbasi who wanted to know why none of the two ministers who run the Petroleum Ministry are present then joined Buledi, and if they were not coming did they inform the chair? Abbasi asked from Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro. Soomro said he was not informed.
That was when Liaquat Bangelzai said discrimination that governs the federation's attitude towards the provinces is becoming part of our history, as it had become the part of history that tells the story of separation of East Pakistan. And, the rulers have put wool on their eyes, as we have been crying for the last three years that Balochistan is not getting its due share. "Are we the citizens of third degree?"
Raza Rabbani gave the finishing touch to the angry statements: "It is not fair that a minister should use such words about a constituent part of Pakistan. How can Sher Afgan say the people of a certain province are incompetent. I will not tolerate. He should withdraw his words." Having said that he led the opposition out of the House.
The House resumed its business after one full hour, but the chair allowed the question hour to go on. It was now the turn of Sanaullah Baloch who was unhappy that the PPL had made billions over the years, but its share towards welfare of the people of Balochistan was minimal.
"This is constitutional terrorism, as it is in violation of the Constitution when jobs are distributed on ethnic and provincial basis. Raza Muhammad Raza joined him by complaining that province Pakhtoonkhwa is also being denied its due share. "I will not reply this question because I don't accept that there is a province called Pakhtoonkhwa", Sher Afgan responded.
Raza Rabbani was given the floor soon after the question hour was over, who took up the Karachi blasts incident, asserting that the government has lost its writ to the warlords. Only a day before President Musharraf had declared that there was no incident of terrorism during the last one year and the governor had claimed that Karachi's image had turned positive.
"It is time that the government should review its Foreign Policy because it is amassing enemies." A few other members also condemned the incident, which Minister of State for Interior Wasim Shehzad said is an act of terrorism but the culprits would be soon caught and punished.
However, it did not take much time that the Senate regained its usual tranquillity, as the members showered lavish praise on the report of the Senate Special Committee on WTO. Professor Khurshid Ahmed described the report a world class document, but did not hesitate to point out that the Government of Pakistan had failed to frame a co-ordinated policy.