Shouting, screaming and other parliamentary activity
Ah, how times change. Hacks of the Press Gallery variety would testify that the prime minister used to be treated with a level of deference by the members of the League at the worst of times. Case in point: the governor raj in the Punjab. Amidst the pandemonium unleashed in the house by the Leaguers in the session following the move, the prime minister steps in. Nothing if not placatory, he managed to calm them down, with some stating the only reason they didn’t walk out of the house was the prime minister’s plea.
Whether the premier was playing the good cop or the League was attempting to buttress his ego and trying to drive a wedge between the president and him, there was no great rift between them. Slowly and gradually, yes, the prime minister’s alleged corruption did become the focal point for some of the Leaguers but the gloves never were quite off. The way they were the other day with the Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar saying, in typical sub-continental adversarial manner, that he would see how the PPP brings in their convicted PM in the house.
Well, the PPP did bring their guy into the house and if any Leaguer didn’t see it, if was perhaps because they had walked out of the house. The premier, also, wasn’t his peaceful self. No one but the speaker and the parliament can deseat me, he said. He accused the League’s leadership of having huge egos which rendered them unable to take any criticism or participate in a working parliament. If the parliament and its sanctity is one’s only bulwark, one owns it and uses it as a weapon. It is up to the prime minister, then, to wear his remarkable attendance record at the house like a badge and bring attention to the Punjab chief minister’s apparent aversion to visiting the provincial parliament. A jibe, also, at the elder Sharif’s dismal parliamentary record during his stints in the prime minister’s office.
These are, unfortunately, interesting times. At the hustle proceeds, both sides are digging in their heels in the parliament, the Q is in silent assent with the government, the ANP is vocal about its support to the government and the MQM, being what it is, is hedging its bets till the dust settles.
Nothing like a bit of fireworks.