Neither went to finishing school. When we hear of a guests’ list of a television talk show that has both the League’s Talal Chaudhry and the PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry, we should know that the language is going to get colourful.
The issue for discussion on Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk was the rejection of the election nomination papers by the various Returning Officers. Now this isn’t exactly a contentious issue. Almost all political parties can find common cause in this issue. The ROs are certainly colouring way out of the lines. We don’t have to go farther than the example of Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who was asked by her RO about her plans for the conservation of water (on the national level.) While her lawyer was adamant in reminding the RO that it was not his place to ask such questions, the non-plussed League heir apparent still gave an answer.
The examples that Mir gave on his program included legislators from both the League and PTI. The question of, for instance, what a candidate has done for the constituency, isn’t for the RO to ask. The law of the land doesn’t require a candidate to have done anything for a constituency and Pakistani citizens can contest elections from anywhere in the country; only their Proposers and Seconders have to be from the constituency in question.
But Talal Chaudhry saw it fit to go after the 62,63 Damocles Sword hanging over Imran Khan. Imran Khan’s nomination papers in one constituency were rejected, but not because of the Sita White case that you are talking about, Hamid Mir countered. Yes, but that’s still around, said Chaudhry, referring to the case by former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
On one end, one can call it politics of the gutter; on the other end, this is the sort of thing that could end the political career of politicians in the west. Whatever, not making any judgments about it other than that it makes me a little uncomfortable. That discomfort, of course, is nothing compared to the bit caused to the members of the PTI, Fawad Chaudhry in this case.
His response wasn’t a “stick to the issues” or a “still, financially clean.” His response to the other Chaudhry was a bizarre, “tum apna DNA check karao (you get a DNA check).”
Talal Chaudhry, of course, is not in the dock for having sired an illegitimate child. Perhaps if it were to help, he could have a DNA test conducted and have it mailed to the other Chaudhry. The DNA test is in your court now, m’lord.
PS: The PPP’s Maula Bux Chandio, ever the epitome of Sindhi grace, was smiling from afar in the program. At one point within the mudfest, a hapless Hamid Mir asked him to have a word with the dueling Chaudhrys as an “elder.” These youngsters are now the elders, he replied. Sad state of affairs.