PML-N style
PTI, MQM and PPP can hold their senators accountable – for the passage of the Electoral Reforms Bill 2017 – all they want, but their findings will not prevent Nawaz Sharif from assuming command of PML-N once again. It is strange, to say the least, that the Upper House of our much celebrated ‘resurgent democracy’ saw the Senate minority exploit a confused, and partially present, opposition in favour of Nawaz Sharif. It seems too much of a coincidence for so many senators to be conveniently engaged elsewhere at the time of such an important vote, even though all opposition senators had been issued a legislative alert from the chamber of the leader of opposition.
So far PTI has issued show cause notices to senators Nauman Wazir Khattak and Brig (r) John Kenneth for their absence, while MQM has delivered Mian Ateeq the chop for violating party policy and supporting PML-N. So the coming days will tell whether this was just a case of an undisciplined, ill-prepared opposition, or if other factors like the traditional give-and-take of third world democracies were at play. The absence of PPP senators was particularly telling. Few people believe they would take such daring steps without a go-ahead from the chairman or co-chairman.
Perhaps some old-timers, wary of corruption charges, or other legal niceties, dogging them in not too distant the future, are securing some ground for themselves. If so, our advances in democracy have not yet incorporated vital interests of the people, and issues that dominate the House continue to revolve around the privileged few. Our politicians, so quick on the draw whenever democracy seemingly comes under pressure, need to show more respect to not just parliament, but also the people. Going by the proceedings that led to the Electoral Reforms Bill 2017, such realiastion might not exactly be around the corner.
