The present assemblies are on their way to complete their five years constitutional tenure each after coming into existence as a result of general election held in October 2002. Right from the first day, it is rather unfortunate to point out, those occupying the Opposition benches in the National Assembly have all along been clamouring for democracy.
So much so, the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) was founded by veteran politician, the late Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan. All these years, the opposition has been striving, struggling and undertaking the so-called million march for the ouster of President General Pervez Musharraf and downfall of the Federal Government of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
But what they have achieved? The answer is in the negative, just nothing. Instead of doing its homework and contributing towards socio-economic uplift of the masses while sitting on the Opposition benches, they have been indulging in statements mongering on every issue and non-issue trying to create stumbling blocks in the way of what good work the government was going according to its election manifesto.
Now two important elections are fast approaching ie the presidential election and the general election. General Pervez Musharraf has not only made public his intentions to contest the forthcoming presidential election but also embarked upon what is being termed as the mass contact with the ruling coalition parliamentarians for mustering their support.
But where is the presidential candidate of the combined (or divided) Opposition? None is in the sight as none has been found and announced. Instead of continuously indulging in unparliamentary practices and unhealthy traditions both inside and outside the Parliament, the Opposition will be well-advised to set its own house in order and let the government do its good work for the welfare of the people who had given the ruling party their mandate in the last general election.
The Opposition parties, some of them, may be in a position to form the next government after the general election. Would they like those sitting on the Opposition benches indulge in the same negative tactics which the present Opposition has resorted to all these last five years?
Indulging in statement mongering, not letting the government of the day to serve the masses and doing nothing good is indeed rendering no service to democracy or for that matter strengthening of the democratic institutions in the country.