The National Assembly was adjourned sine die on Saturday. It had met only for two days for its 33rd session and had done practically nothing in terms of legislation, its only achievement being the election of five senators - a task that aptly fits into the widely held perception that it is the rubber stamp that is used to lend legitimacy to the whims and wishes of the rulers.
All that passes for parliament-in-session is, in fact, ado about nothing. So, when Deputy Chairman Sardar Yaqub announced adjournment, against the understanding that the House would meet in the afternoon as well, there were no hard feelings.
Bypassing the question hour the Chair invited points of order, which, as usual, were not in short supply. Given that such an opportunity is billed as concession that the Speaker gives stark frustration was in store for the government when member from North Waziristan, Naik Zaman, got the mike.
His assertion was that all that the government says about the situation in both North and South Waziristan was exactly opposite of the reality on the ground. NWFP governor Khalilur Rehman had assured the local 'jirgas' that the military operation was being suspended and tasked the local leadership to evolve a workable strategy to restore peace and tranquillity in the area.
But then came the Ist of March and the operation was again launched. "Isn't it our misfortune that a gift has to be given to the Americans whether anybody comes from there or goes there. This time President Bush was coming."
The Speaker was anxious that Naik Zaman should be over with his statement as quickly as possible, but that was not the Fata member's plan. "You don't want to hear me. If that is the case tell us then where should we go. If we are not citizens of Pakistan, tell us so. But we say we are Pakistanis ...All those killed in the military operation were Pakistanis, in all respects, including women and children.
Be merciful to our women and children. For God's sake, don't kill us", implored Naik Zaman, adding losses on both sides are colossal, in that Pakistan army also lost 500 jawans.
This could be one point of view, contended Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao. The NWFP governor had made no promise of cease-fire; he was misquoted as he had sternly warned that foreigners would not be tolerated.
The local Taleban want to set up their own courts and the Waziristan trouble is spreading to settled districts also, said the minister adding on Ist of March the local clerics had declared Jihad against the government and local Taleban and foreign elements had taken over the government buildings. You cannot allow a state within a state", Sherpao asserted.
By then the opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman had come to the House. Taking the mike, he said when General Musharraf addressed the joint session of parliament there was no trouble on the western border, nor in Balochistan. But the President had made the remark that while problems on the eastern border would be settled through negotiations the issues on the western border would be sorted out with the use of force.
When in 1971, Pakistan was falling apart General Yahya kept on saying "the fight will go on". Highlighting the unreality of the official claims Fazlur Rehman said a remorseful PTV crew had told him that when people of Fata were fleeing their hearths and homes the state-controlled media was saying they are returning as peace had been restored.
Peace has not been restored, he said and asserted that turmoil is being created in the tribal areas to help the United States' agenda to keep the cauldron boiling.
The MMA leader strongly contested the official claims that foreigners were killed in the tribal area. Name one foreigner who was killed", he challenged Sherpao to whom he offered full co-operation in restoring peace in the restive tribal areas.
The Chair also gave members the opportunity to give vent to their individual problems as privilege motions. But towards the end of the day it was the point of order raised by Tehmina Daultana that embarrassed the Speaker. Amir Hussain had told the House earlier that he had directed the Punjab government to bring Saad Rafique to the House, but he was not brought.
Tehmina asked the Speaker how he felt being ignored by the provincial government. Amir Hussain was indeed hurt but he did not appear to be so. Instead he read out a fax message from Lahore that said that Saad Rafique could not be sent because seat could not be procured in the morning flights.
On another point of order PPPP's Abdul Mujib Pirzada contested the legal validity of gazette notification issued consequent to presidential order with respect to the NFC and asked the Speaker why his adjournment motion on this was rejected.
Noting that NFC is crucial to smoothly running the Federation he warned the Chair that the Constitution is a contract between the two sides, and "if one party violates it then it ceases to be a binding on the other". This was yet another measure of growing differences between the government and the opposition.