- Some attention to parliament, please
Once again the government is talking about somebody begging for another NRO. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary this time enlightened the media about how the government is under pressure to grant NROs to opposition heavyweights who are threatened by its axe of accountability. And, just like every time, he stopped short of declaring just who has been doing all the asking, and just who for. The situation is made all the more interesting by the opposition squarely calling the government’s bluff, throwing the ball effectively back in PTI’s court. Yet, strangely, despite all its claims of transparency and fair play the government refuses to pull the cover from this mystery.
All this business no doubt makes it that much harder for the government and opposition to work together; hence the logjam in the House. Yet, as the PM realised in the matter about the PAC, there’s only so long such a confrontation can last. Oddly, the government hasn’t quite been able to fulfill some, rather all, of its tall claims about practicing western-style democracy. There has been zero legislation so far; something that even bothered the outgoing chief justice recently. The prime minister promised question time but there was no follow up. And what’s this news about the government taking all steps possible to keep the agenda of cabinet meetings secret? Isn’t cabinet business very much the people’s business in proper western democracies?
If, after so many months in office, the government is still being blamed for acting as if it were the opposition, then perhaps it’s time it look at its own actions in addition to just blaming the opposition. The accountability drive is controversial as it is, why muddy the waters even more by repeated talk of NROs, etc? If corrupt politicians are approaching the government to get off the hook then it is indeed a grave matter. But then the government must take proper action instead of just talking about it. It should also remember, above everything, that it does not have the authority to offer any NRO, only the responsibility to expose the bad guys and take necessary action.
