The opposition in the Senate on Wednesday said that the government lost the Pakistan Steel Mills' sell-off case the day its cabinet member and lawyer Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada declined to defend the giving of land to the consortium.
On the second day of the debate on the privatisation policy with focus on the PSM issue, Leader of the House Wasim Sajjad dismissed the opposition's demand of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz stepping down as illogical.
Lack of interest by the members from both sides of the aisle, particularly from the ruling coalition was evident from their thin attendance.
Leader of the House's response that 14500-acre PSM land valuing Rs 70 billion would go to the government generated a lot of interest in the House.
Reading out parts of the judgement, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Senator Sadia Abbasi contended that the government had lost the case after its adviser had declined to defend it on issue of land being given to the consortium.
"The person who received Rs 1 million fee was not ready to argue in support of this particular concession, among others given to the bidder," she said.
The lady senator said that it was like making mockery of the court judgement, when the ministers maintained that there was not even a single word of corruption the apex court mentioned in the verdict.
She pointed out that an attorney in the US State, New Jersey, quit over the imprisonment of her boyfriend. Though there was no legal bar on her to resign but she observed a code of ethics by bowing out.
The Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation should adopt an honourable course and resign for bringing shame to the nation, she demanded.
Sadia Abbasi alleged that under an agenda, these rulers were selling off the profit-earning precious national assets to their favourites on throwaway prices.
Wasim Sajjad said that the court had referred to some omissions and commissions while scrapping the deal and this did not constitute, as if kickbacks were involved.
"We welcome the court judgement that has pointed out that certain rules were not observed during the process," he said and added the government would abide by the court's observations.
He strongly believed that the opposition would not be able to bring out people on streets against the government, as the masses were not ready to pay heeds to their rhetoric.
The Leader of the House brushed aside corruption allegations against the Prime Minister, saying that his hands were clean and he had earned laurels across the world for bringing stability to the country's economy.
"The rupee is stable for the last four years, mega projects are under way. People are getting jobs. Leading financial publications have appreciated the economic progress in Pakistan," Wasim Sajjad said.
Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz, he added, enjoy the masses' confidence for their prudent policies, he said, adding that the no-trust motion would be defeated, as the government enjoyed clear majority in the Parliament.
Eminent lawyer and the ruling party Senator S M Zafar offered no defence to the government on the issue directly, but pointed out that the judgement had reflected separation of powers ie the executive and the judiciary.
Unlike in the past, he said the executive acted positively and welcomed the judgement, hinting at a change in the mindset.
Citing a judicial review in the light of Pakistan Peoples' Party's appeal, after Benazir Bhutto was dismissed by the then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan, he said that a court judgement, mentioning omissions and commissions could not be interpreted as a criminal act.
The court had given observations in that particular case, which did not tantamount to issuing indictment against her. Similarly, he added, the judgement in PSM case also did not necessarily constitute that corruption had been committed in the sell-off.
MMA Senator Professor Sajid Mir accused the government of oversimplifying the issue, saying it was not so, the court had pointed out gross irregularities and the attorney general himself had conceded that the CCOP and Privatisation Commission convoluted the process.
The court also noted with concern the 'indecent haste' with which the sell-off was completed and moreover the financial adviser was not asked for land valuation. "What else is required for Premier's exit, as the court has fixed the responsibility," he asked.
Sajid Mir pointed out that the PSM had shown remarkable profit from 2000-06, then how could it be termed a white elephant and that one billion dollars were required to make it profitable.
The MMA Senator said that none of the prime ministers were elected by the Parliament, their elevation was made from somewhere else.
Senators Rehmatullah Kakar, Liaquat Bangalzai, Dilawar Abbas, Nisar Memon and Professor Ibrahim also took part in the debate.