MPs’ interest in NA proceedings fading

One expected PML-N legislators to flock the in-session Lower House of Parliament in great numbers due to their parliamentary party meeting chaired by prime minister after a long time.

But it was not to be, as most of the legislators, and ministers skipped the National Assembly proceedings the same evening for other pressing engagements. 

Lack of interest by government and opposition legislator in proceedings of, especially, National Assembly, is a routine thing everyone seems to have reconciled with for now. Many would put forth lack of interesting and pressing business on the agenda as a major reason for the lackluster presence, others would argue if Premier Sharif and Imran Khan could regularly turn up at Parliament, rest will fall in line. 

In fact, the session at hand seems more of a fill-in-the-blank exercise to meet the working days schedule of a parliamentary year. Nothing more. Around 50-60 of the legislators present on Thursday for two hours of evening session, and that too adjourned hurriedly by the Deputy Speaker as a dissident PTI legislator tried to point out the quorum even when her mic was off. 

Throughout Thursday’s session, the front rows of the treasury were almost empty, two or three ministers and same number of state ministers ‘graced’ the house yawning, smiling, and passing time. And rest of the treasury back benchers had a great time as they engaged in small talk amidst intermittent laughters. 

Issue of the day under scrutiny was naturally the best and awkward movements of the parliamentary party with legislator Asadur Rehman’s onslaught against ministers, and premier asking ministers in return to improve their behaviour towards legislators. Asadur Rehman is brother of Justice (R) Khalil Ramday known for his influence in ruling party and government circles. 

On this day, however, Opposition’s benches presented an almost deserted look with Naveed Qamar rallying 5-6 PPP legislators. One could only spot Dr Shireen Mazarri amongst prominent PTI legislators. Majority of its front row and back benchers didn’t turn up. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, being taunted in party ranks forshowing more interest in Hillary Clinton’s election campaign than focusing on domestic political wrangling, was not there to be seen as he had to do a lot of explaining regarding his nod for election commission members’ selection on his return from United States. 

And as expected, Dr Mazarri rumbled within minutes of giving some tutorials to emotional firebrand Murad Saeed, making her presence felt and putting some life to the otherwise dull proceedings as she wanted answers from Defense Minister on reports that the United States is again stopping Coalition Support Fund payments to Pakistan. Then she also had some pointed question to test skills and nerves of the defense minister regarding Pakistani air force fighter jets reportedly participating in some war games along with Israel’s jets in Nevada, USA.

Khawaja Asif is expected to do the needful, may be on Friday (today) in a more polite, gentleman way. But one should not underestimate headline making skills both of them possess abundantly. Shirrin and Asif had a bitter bout during the June budget session over off the hook remarks by the later. And the situation remained bitter even after Asif’s necessary clarifications which were not satisfactory for Mazarri. On this day, one could also spot Sheikh Rashid Ahmed seated at the far end of front row benches, tucked safely but in an unusually silent mode between Mahmood Achakzai and Aftab Sherpao. Apparently, he doesn’t enjoy company of both the gentlemen as he sledom indulges in greeting and pep talk with both, and vice versa. At the end of the proceedings, however, Rashid got an unexpected guest sitting next to him. Mulanana Fazlur Rehman, having arrived in the House midway into proceedings, could be seen indulged on an unusual exchange of views with Rashid. Famous for taking on Sharif led government full throttle, and coming up with political prophecies of its expected fall every now and then, Rashid is unusually calm and silent these days. A darling of some rating hungry television talk shows, Rashid is trying to put up a brave face in media and public hoping against hope that his latest one, “100 critical days for Sharif rule” , is a hit on small screen. 

Rashid came to the PTI benches, exchanged views with Dr Mazarri and PML-Q legislator Tariq Cheema. Perhaps, nitty gritty of discussion with Maulana was being fine tuned. All this took place immediately after minister of state Anousha Rehman approachd Fazlur Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Dr ShirrinMazarriin back to back conversations at treasury-opposition benches as she wrapped up the whole thing in a few minutes. 

The minister is part of the six-member government team on ToRs that negotiates with the opposition. And one could safely assume a meeting of the 12 member ToR Committee will be in the offing next week as the government would first test the actual force of Dr Qadri and Imran Khan’s shows of strength on August 6 and 7 respectively, and then decide what to concede on ToRs to set the judicial probe on Panama Leaks into motion. 

Till then, everyone is in a wait and see mode as top government tiers are trying to calm down and settle the usual trouble makers, and some angry treasury back benchers. Many of them choose some critical time to vent out their grievances and make their presence felt. As of now, it is being claimed that following ample flow of developmental funds being channelled on recommendations and under supervision of Capt (R) Safdar, Hamza Shahbaz a lot of the back benchers are finally satisfied, settled. On Thursday too, after having been carefully heard by the premier face to face, the remaining lot has been taken care of as they piled up grievances, many directed against some federal ministers of the Sharif cabinet that has not been reshuffled for the last three years running. 

Entry and exit from the federal cabinet on the basis of individual performance props up hope in the aspirants at the back benches. No back and forth movement on this account coupled with behaviour of some ministers is compelling some influential back benchers to flex muscles, agitate. 

All this at a time when PTI is about to kick start its agitational campaign on Panama Leaks, ready to test nerves of the Sharif led government as Imran takes to GT Road, from Peshawar to Rawalpindi, and Dr Qadrireadies for a show of strength in Punjab. For now, the ruling party feels energised after premier’s presence in the capital coinciding with the elections win in AJK, back to back meetings on security, foreign affairs issues with participation of military leadership. 

Thursday’s meeting between the premier and Army chief being dubbed as pick of the whole episode of events since the last three months, despite some television anchors persistently trying to paint a gloomy picture of civil military relations . For ratings or something deeper?