AJK incident gears up PPP for putting up brave show

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ISLAMABAD: At the outset as the National Assembly met Monday after a recess of two days, it seemed just a routine-noisy effort by somewhat educated yet persistent lot of PPP backbenchers to agitate over PPP-PML-N standoff in Azad Kashmir.  They knew well PIA crisis at hand didn’t have enough meat to deliver them political dividends as strike call off a few days prior to this opposition requisitioned session had actually taken the steam out of the whole episode.

What remains to be witnessed is yet another long, emotional, and somewhat boring speech of Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah. Nothing more. So plan B of the PPP lot was to focus on Azad Kashmir where Premier Ch Abdul Majeed has declared a political-cum-administrative war on PML-N, hoping against hope to remain in government for yet another five years period. AJK premier is into a compulsory aggressive mode even whenthere is a general impression that PPP-led administration in that region has been as inept throughout as one can imagine. Keeping all this in mind, the PPP Premier is bent on turning heat on PML-N and associates even when he is mindful of real power and leverage the Pakistani government has in that region. Keeping in mind fully well mission for the day, the PPP lot in the National Assembly came prepared on Monday wearing black bands as the real PPP leadership, safely saddled overseas, is not ready to give in politically in Azad Kashmir without a noisy and messy fight. The message was timely conveyed to central legislators to buck up the troubled Azad Kashmir government and party chapter perturbed over chances of PML-N occupying the Azad Kashmir in upcoming elections. PPP would hate that, and thus such a noisy show in the central legislature. Media attention, as always, is a welcome by-product of such an effort, especially when the session is requisitioned by the joint opposition to discuss PIA blues. From the mood of the show, one could feel the other agenda regarding petroleum prices is just a talking point, a fill in the blank included on PTI’s demand. 

But presence of PTI legislators that starkly matched that of treasury, was enough of an indicator. Monday’s proceedings started to develop into a PPP show, as the PTI lot was acting like sidekicks even when Arif Alvi, Dr Shireen Mazari and Shafqat Mahmood tried to make their presence felt through small, ineffective, interjections. Rest of the PTI bandwagon seemed less interested, as many of the backbenchers and bigwigs were away. However, the proceedings in National Assembly progressed on Monday making it a PPP show at the end of the day by all standards. A noisy yet spirited effort by the trio -- elder Zardari sister, Nafeesa Shah, and Shazia Marri – bucked up by freshman Imran Zafar Leghari, and last but not the least, Ejaz Jhakrani. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq just wanted to confine the AJK thing to Khursheed Shah- Pervaiz Rashid bout, and end the whole thing then and there. Compelled by the agitational mood of PPP legislators, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid didn’t mince words while divulging some parts of his telephonic talk with AJK premier, a few days back. The minister could not hide the ample political whit at his disposal when he revealed in a taunting style how disjointed and harsh Premier Majeed’s conversation was, owing to some ‘factor’ that cannot be divulged publicly. 

Outraged by this style of the minister, PPP benches wanted Jhakrani and others be given chance to reply. But as soon as the speaker tried to go ahead with rest of the agenda items, PPP lot agitated at the highest pitch of their noises. Four to five minutes into the whole episode as their sloganeering made it impossible for the House to proceed normally, the speaker finally gave in, allowing Ghakrani to speak his mind. So overwhelmed was the PPP legislator with the situation that he could utter some sentences crudely siding with the party’s AJK chapter. The matter ended in a rather unceremonious manner with Information Minister making Khursheed Shah the judge to arbitrate between PML-N ministers and AJK premier. Everyone happily agreed. 

But the main drama came immediately after this at a time when no one was expecting it to happen. The situation finally compelled the treasury to take the proceedings seriously on the issue of seeking extension of Islamabad Local Government Ordinance. So loud and spirited was the PPP response that they compelled the speaker to finally go for a head count for the Islamabad Ordinance that lapsed on February 11. Had the treasury Chief Whip and some concerned ministers not made an emphatic run to summon colleagues from galleries, and safe confines of the ministerial chambers, it would have been an embarrassment for the treasury benches. No one could afford that. Everyone knew how important it was to save elections of Islamabad mayor – handpicked by Premier Sharif. The cabinet ministers had to employ best of their energies to save the grace through a six vote win over the opposition to extend the Ordinance for 120 days. Though the opposition didn’t have a last laugh, yet they sent alarm bells ringing across treasury benches. Last but not the least, knowing fully well, government of the day has to bear with the friendly opposition leader’s pearls of political wisdom, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, came up with a novel idea to allow maximum time to the opposition leader even if the clock had struck 10 at night. Smelling trap, Khursheed Shah fought back, telling the speaker he was ready for the long discourse, if the treasury could make sure presence of their members till that moment, as many of them would leave the House to take part in television talk shows.

Ayaz Sadiq had the guts to reply, he would make sure no one leaves even knowing fully well participation of party’s top performing legislators in tV talk shows is not in his power ambit. Someone high and mighty in the power corridors would mind it. Just stating facts.....