Polluting the House
MNA Talal Chaudhry fits naturally into the PML-N’s business in the Lower House. Party top guns don’t like to visit the National Assembly too often, especially the prime minister and interior minister. The Khwajas duly show up whenever they are required to spew venom on the opposition. In fact, that’s exactly what Asif did the other day; taking MQM to the cleaners, ridiculingMahajirs, forcing the party to walk out.
And that is also what Talal did, admirably by PML-N standards, with regard to PTI more recently. The ‘aunty’ remark about Shireen Mazari not only got PTI, JI and PPP to walk out, it also troubled the speaker enough to expunge the word from the record. But fiery Talal had more, and wouldn’t tone down despite the speaker’s warnings, forcing even Ayaz Sadiq to leave. Meanwhile there were accusations against Pervez Khattak, Reham Khan, and Dr Arif Alvi. Not very surprisingly, not many in the House appreciated Chaudhry’s language, or his body language. Yet PML-N continues to advocate such provocative debate in the Assembly, even though it is far removed from the actual business of government, and alienates opposition benches when political unity is needed for a whole host of reasons.
Khurshid Shah was spot on that antics such as Chaudhry’s and Asif’s only serve to pollute the House. They have no intrinsic value. Still, for some reason, some of the more ambitious PML-N diehards seem to relish rubbishing others to the point of diminishing the integrity of the National Assembly itself. In the present political situation, all leaders make a point of advocating solidarity, including Nawaz Sharif. But since he chooses to keep away from the Assembly, perhaps he can advise his aggressive cheerleaders that it’s better to adopt a more prudent approach. This type of chest thumping and sabre rattling helps nobody, especially the government. PML-N is, instead, the custodian of order in the House. It should remember its responsibilities.
