Political battle lines being drawn!

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Political battle lines are being drawn once again. The arena, this time around, is the safe environ of Parliament rather than Constitution Avenue or for that matter, D-Chowk. Opposition PPP Parliamentarians may soon get the required, desired, attention of the treasury benches. Likewise, government allies may have yet another opportunity to feat on limited time appeasement plan of government of the day.  

Compulsory Sharif opponents in PTI apart, rest of the Opposition, and government allies can smell something cooking up, on its way to both the houses of parliament if need be. All this a welcome relief for them to end dry and dull days of parliamentary sessions at hand. All they were demanding for long, and continue to do so, was presence of the prime minister and important ministers in both the houses of Parliament. Perhaps a dream is about to come true by default, with some busy days ahead. The whole notion in the power corridors to carve out a judicial check on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the immediate future, is alive as ever, even if the government spin doctors continue to play down any such move. Leave aside the clarification brigade, one must listen to knowledgeable planners, doers of the PML-N dispensation. And apart from some back benchers in the House who are just made to sit through some hours to keep the quorum, presence intact, the real info and issues are with those who don’t confine themselves to their respective chambers, offices in the Parliament. Gossip apart, these days, one gets to know something “serious” is cooking up in the treasury camp, to be unleashed during this session or immediate future. Participants of a meeting chaired by Premier Sharif some days back had some brief idea of the whole scheme of things in the offing. The Premier, it was learnt, wanted his Secretary to brief on the “oversight commission” the government is contemplating to introduce to streamline NAB’s working. But the matter was put off for another day.   

All this at a time when the National Assembly is in session, and Monday was one such recess like day when no major business is on agenda. Prompted by the easy going approach of the treasury with no serious business in sight, Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah, warned he could speak for the whole session, slated to last till Friday. What could stop him was a commitment by treasury to wind up “motion of thanks” in June 2015 presidential address that till date finds space on house business on any lean day. And here we are preparing for another presidential address in the coming summers.

Nothing less. A prompt assurance by the minister was however enough to settle the whole thing. This brought some comic relief too, otherwise on a lean day like this everyone was having a good time. It was one of the typical days in the Lower House of Parliament when one doesn’t get to see a lot of business, hustle-bustle. And this was evident from all empty treasury-opposition front benches. There are some exceptions too. Khursheed Shah, Naveed Qamar, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, and these days, former Premier Zafarullah Jamali also joining the bandwagon of regular attendants. On this day too, second and third rows had occasional hustle-bustle. In-fact, members’ attendance was touching its lowest ebb – 40 to 50 present overall. Ministerial bandwagon that attends the session regularly can easily be classified as those having least burden or occupying less important ministries. The busy ones, seldom turn up in the House. Federal Minister Rana Tanveer landed on the treasury front row in the middle of Monday’s session, in a courtesy cum duty mode. He seldom speaks these days, but keeps a close watch on PPP benches. Remember, the way he sided firmly with the interior minister as he took on Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah, a few days back. One could observe Ministers Zahid Hamid, Barjees Tahir and Sheikh Aftab, tucked in the second row, indulged in pep talk. And then two, three ministers of state, including Dr Tariq Fazal, dutifully in regular attendance, yawning and smiling.     

The ministerial bandwagon that attends the session regularly can easily be labeled as those having least burden or occupying less important ministries. The busy ones, seldom turn up in the House. There are some exceptions too. Take the example of Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan. Known for his bluntness and serious approach, many in the power corridors would not like him to have a face-off with PPP legislators. Ever since becoming interior minister he had the guts to take on the most important PPP men in Senate and National Assembly – opposition leaders. And hence the approach at hand. It is better he addresses important issues through a press conference on a holiday even when the Lower House is in session. Such is the nature of sensitivity at play. PPP leadership in general, the Sindh government and the two Opposition Leaders in Parliament in particular, are compulsory Nisar haters for now. Not long ago, former President Asif Zardari had reminded Premier Sharif through a statement that it was not only NAB, but Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that is also involved in excesses against some politicians, parliamentarians. The interior minister had offered judicial commission then and there to probe the whole issue. Only last month, Ch Nisar-Khursheed Shah had an exchange of political cum corruption allegations that were watered down in a surprising manner prior to the session at hand. Fireworks were expected had the situation not been controlled through back channel. What was that all about so easily brushed aside? Opposition Leader in Senate Ch Eitzaz Ahsan, one hears, had recently complained to the government quarters about some FIA investigators who wanted to question him about some alleged investment done in a posh sky scrapper just adjacent to Convention Center Islamabad. Known for his repute and rich track record in politics, Eitzaz was visibly agitated. Remember the famous Eitzaz-Nisar bout during the PTI sit-in days in August-September 2014, telecast live. Now, the PML-N has to do something.

As the interior minister is ultimate boss of FIA, hence the judicial commission offer on the table? One finds no takers of the offer, up till now.