- Everybody has a point
How typical that the Senate, so soon after its election process, is occupied with matters that concern the top individuals of top parties and are not connected, in any way, with the people. The PM is right. Some positions taken by certain opposition parties reeked blatantly of horse trading; perhaps even a lot of palm greasing. But that, by all accounts, went both ways. It’s not as if the ruling party did not employ the same tactics itself, though more conservatively. But surely PM Abbasi would not have been so cross if PML-N’s man had won, no matter how tainted the process.
Sherry Rehman is also right. PML-N’s sudden concern for the sanctity of the Senate, especially after ignoring parliament throughout the electoral cycle, is because the result bulldozed its plans to legislate in favour of Nawaz Sharif. And now that PPP and PTI have managed to push Sanjrani through, PML-N’s criticism is in direct proportion with its building frustration. Now PPP and PTI are mulling privilege motions against the prime minister for insulting parliament, etc, so the Senate’s agenda seems pretty jammed even if in a purposeless sort of way.
And Imran Khan is also right. PTI had, after all, asked the government to change the mode of election precisely to rule out undemocratic practices. But that sense of righteousness clearly did not stop it from backing the same bloc it previously accused of horse trading. The manner of the Senate election needs to change. For far too long the same process has been allowed to repeat itself. The constitution mandates both houses to legislate in the interest of the people. Yet we are routinely treated to a circus where the rich and powerful play cards to further their own narrow interests. The Senate election must be made transparent and free of undemocratic practices.
