It is clear by now, like day light that what stance the two major political parties would take on the issue of immunity to President Asif Ali Zardai after the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani speech in the Senate and Pakistan Muslim League Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif at a press briefing in Lahore. What was more significant was their timing and reference.
The statements of both the leaders were in the context of the Swiss case being heard in the Supreme Court with respect to implementation of its previous order. Gilani's speech was seen as a message to the Supreme Court and Nawaz Sharif's to the government over the issue of Constitutions immunity to the President and demonstrated that the things are eventually moving towards possible confrontation.
This was clear from the Prime Minister's statement that the government is bent upon not writing letter to the Swiss courts for opening of cases against Zardari unless the Parliament amends the Constitution to withdraw the immunity to the President. Pakistan Muslim League (N) had decided to go with the apex court and this was communicated by Nawaz Sharif and was evident from his press conference.
Gilani made a passionate call to the Parliamentarians to rise for the sanctity of the Parliament. The course of the coalition partners is yet to be seen over the latest stance of the government on the issue of immunity to the President and that may result in confrontation with the apex court but one thing was clear that Pakistan People's Party decision to defend the President was taken after consultation at Central Executive Committee of the party a day before. And this was announced next day in the Senate by none other than the Prime Minister himself.
Prime Minister obviously wanted the support of the political parties and was tacitly suggesting that their powers are being undermined by others. He said that this is up to the Parliament to decide which powers it is ready to keep and which it wanted to give up.
Sadly, all this, of course, was happening at a time when the country needed political stability for the economy and reconstruction of over 20 million flood affectees. The developing situation has further strengthened the rumours already rife of a government change. This change, many believe, has become inevitable because of decline of economy and the governance. The Prime Minister, who claimed to have suggested the US senator the need to improve their perception by releasing Dr Afia was hardly bothered about his government perception at home and abroad.
Appointments in various departments in total disregard to the merit on political affiliation has damaged the perception about the government and the latest example was the appointment of Managing Director OGDCL whose notification was withdrawn by the Prime Minister only after suo moto notice by the Supreme Court.
The issue of political appointments also echoed in the Senate during the question hour session when Senator Ismail Buledi and Haji Gulam Ali of JUI accused the government of appointing a large number of PPP workers in National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) in gross violation of merit. JUI Senators have been supported by the other coalition partners, Zahid Khan of ANP and Shahid Hassan Bugti of JWP and forced the chair to constitute a committee to find out the truth behind the allegations. The reluctance of the Chair provoked a walkout by the coalition partners. Their sole demand was scrutiny of some 15,000 recruited by the government in Nadra, Wapda and Pakistan Railways and threatened to boycott the entire session if their demand of a house committee was not accepted.
The purpose of their demand was to know whether or not these appointments have been made on merit and according to rules of procedure. They said Pakistan Peoples' Party appointed its political workers in public sector organisation which of course is a serious allegation and no one would disagree to their demand of an impartial probe into the matter. This becomes more important when such accusations against the government have been coming from the coalition partners like ANP and JUI.
The Chairman Senate Farooq H Neak and leader of the House who initially showed some reluctance but caved in to the pressure of Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) and Jamhori Watan Party (JWP) for constitution of House committee when they stormed out of the House and threatened to boycott the session if their demand was turned down by the Chair.
Sensing the situation, Chair gave ruling that "Special House Committee will be constituted in consultation with the leader of the House to look into the grievances of the members regarding appointments in public organisations." With this kind of perception how the government can expect the people and even the coalition partners, leave alone Pakistan Muslim League (N), to support it.