- Infantile politics is rendering parliament dysfunctional
A number of parliamentarians belonging to the PTI and its allies continue to act like a bull in the China shop, taking recourse to un-parliamentary language, resorting to aggressive postures and making demands that violate parliamentary practices. The prime minister and important cabinet members continue to dodge the National Assembly and Senate proceedings on flimsy excuses. In November Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry entered into an argument with a Senator and took recourse to unsavory language. The Senate chairman directed the minister to tender an apology to the House which he refused, forcing the chair to bar him from attending the ongoing session. In National Assembly Murad Saeed remains a permanent source of incitement. Last year he climbed over the benches to pick up a fight with a PML-N minister. But for the restraint displayed by the opposition Murad Saeed’s provocative harangues could have led to unfortunate incidents.
Sh Rashid, the only member of his Awami Muslim League in Parliament, got elected because of the support extended by Imran Khan. Now that he is an MNA and minister for railways he demands that the PTI nominate him as a member of the PAC in violation of the rules that disallow a minister to become a member of a standing committee. Rashid also demands that Shahbaz Sharif resign from the chair of the PAC which he got through a consensus between the PTI and the opposition. Sheikh Rashid has even tried to browbeat the Speaker, a veteran PTI leader.
An unending confrontation between the government and the opposition does not suit the administration. Whatever policies a ruling party has devised for the welfare of the people and the good of the country require legislation. The PTI does not have the numerical strength in the Senate to get the laws passed without the support of the opposition. Unless there are working relations between the ruling party and the opposition, the government cannot implement its programme and fulfill the promises made to the voters. Some of the more mature PTI leaders are gradually realising that there a need to strengthen the parliament instead of undermining it through irresponsible behaviour. Can they persuade Imran Khan of the importance of bolstering the system?
