Murad-Latif bout: PPP puts treasury in defensive mood

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Agitation-hardened PTI legislators aided by seemingly disgruntled PPP colleagues put the treasury in defensive mode through a walkout on Murad Saeed-Javed Latif bout issue Friday afternoon. 

In the process, pinching PML-N led treasury hard enough to make then run for the required number of legislators to complete the quorum, pointed moments before Law minister Zahid Hamid could hardly adjust himself to lay the military courts bill. 

Knowing fully well significance of the crucial constitutional amendment bill and time constraints, PTI demanded suspension of Javed Latif, announcing categorically anything short of it won’t do. 

Agitations unlimited as Imran Khan, party and political affiliates anxiously await Panama case verdict by the apex court. And they are desperate to pounce on every opportunity – big or small. Some of them more than hopeful Panama case would turn the tide on the ruling family. Others not so upbeat, hope against hope. 

Inside parliament, they plan to rehearse a soft agitational version and keep on staging walkouts (token of otherwise) during the next week too to test nerves of treasury at a crucial legislative moment. With PTI prepared for in-house agitation mode, the PPP acted smart on Thursday by joining Imran Khan’s comrades in the walkout for the time being – collaboration of convenience at its best.  

MQM, JI, FATA members didn’t side with the temporary PPP-PTI team up. As if this was not enough, within minutes PPP’s Shagufta Jummani pointed out quorum delaying laying of 28th constitutional amendment bill by an hours’ time. So crucial was the timing for treasury before Juma prayers break that ministers could be seen rushing towards lobbies, chambers while making emphatic calls to the treasury and allied legislators to make it to the House. For sure it exposed treasury’s ill-preparedness to deal with such an eventuality.  

Interestingly, without PPP, and PTI members the 200 plus strong treasury was not able to muster eighty six members, required to maintain quorum. With PPP and PTI members staying put at the lobby under protest, it was time for minister Saad Rafiq to provide some amusement to all those sitting patiently for the quorum to complete. 

Without a formal proceeding, Saad and Javed Latif turned the sitting into an informal get together. Blaming squarely Murad Saeed for Thursday’s mishap. No one dared mention Javed Latif’s verbal transgression. Minutes earlier, Arif Alvi and Ali Mohammad tried to do the same. How dare anyone criticize their living legend Imran Khan, was the sum total of PTI’s message delivered in an aggressive tone. Both took floors one by one on point of orders, protested at Javed Latif’s conduct and then walked out with rest of the party bandwagon. Ali Mohammad had some novel way out of the crisis as he spoke, prompting an anxious and surprised Deputy Speaker to ask for details.  “Suspend Javed Latif to resolve the crisis,” Ali divulged. 

Murtaza Abbasi could only fume with pent up feeling – no reaction offered. Murad Saeed was conspicuously absent this day. Colleagues hinted he would be too ‘hard to control’ if he sees Javed Latif again. Minus degree issue that has now been resolved, and some serious temperament issues that compel him to go out of control, Murad is a future PTI chairman material as spelled out by Imran Khan himself, early in 2014. Murad received the full backing of PTI chief after Thursday’s bout, a captain in Imran Khan had vowed to go an extra mile against adversary legislator (Javed Latif in this case) had he been in Muraad’s place.  What a way to lead from the front Skipper!!! The trouble with modern day politics is that every back bencher wants to be noticed. From first timers like Murad Saeed to experienced Javed Latif. Everyone wants to get across total and unconditional loyalty messages to respective leadership by making it to the media headlines. This is the only fast track way forward to the corridors of power. Reality check is the causality in such situations as each side passionately propagates and advocates half truth. 

In the case at hand, Muard was the first one to invite this mess. He went abusive and physical to start with. But Javed Latif lost moral and ethical victory by hurling insults towards Murad’s family members in presence of media. 

Keeping in mind the whole scenario, PML-N made Javed Latif regret his utterances in media interaction outside parliament, in the safe company of Minister Saad Rafiq. It didn’t satisfy PTI legislators Ayesha Gulelalae, Arif Alivi and rest. 

They still want action against Javed Latif that seems hard to come by as Speaker has already constituted a committee to probe the matter. Given the tempers and emotions on both sides, another hush up is on the cards. Remember last month’s mess and match of fists between treasury and PTI legislators, starring Murad Saeed, Shahid Khakhan, PTI’s Afridi and many more. 

For the moment, the real test for the treasury is to cool down tempers and persuade PTI to end boycott of the proceedings. And end PPP’s misgivings on powers and ambit of military courts. Not only PPP but a major PML-N ally Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s reservations on the military courts extensions bill on Friday compelled treasury benches to re-check, restratagise the whole move in the National Assembly. Another parliamentary heads meeting in the offing, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced, reminding law minister to especially take notes about JUI’s reservations. So we are gearing up for an eventful next week in case Sharif-Zardari reproachment is not achieved.  For now, the disagreement brought the whole government move to a tail spin, as many kept of wondering  what had actually transpired at the parliamentary heads moot chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday. 

Zardari sahib is a hard task master, a shrewd-brainy player of the political chess board. He must be having some serious reservations as PPP first tier feels unbridled powers for military courts is an encroachment on civil supremacy – whatever left in the current security environment.    

Read carefully elder Zardari sister, Dr  Azra Fazal’s remarks as she opposed the bill. She feared without proper checks in place, military courts proceedings could be used as a witch hunt in specific cases, in future. PPP has serious reservations regarding appeals process, as well as, another two year term for military court.

PML-N’s all-purpose second in command, Senator Ishaq Dar, who the other day had announced PPP’s coming to terms with the government bill, was not there to clarify.  Remember Zardari sahib mentioning his buddy Dr Asim Hussain’s incarceration – first by Rangers and now NAB. Though Asim has never been tried by a military court, PPP is keeping its guard – just in case.