PRESS GALLERY: How long it should be …? —By Raja Riaz
LAHORE: Parliaments, assemblies or Houses of Representatives, all over the world command respect– but not in Punjab; the biggest federating unit of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In every country listed on the global map, whether they have a parliamentary form of government or presidential structure of running affairs, the masses have a ‘say’ of electing their members, and the word ‘prestigious’ is associated with the assemblies.
The ‘honour’ or ‘prestige,’ these institutions have earned is due to their constructive role of promoting the democratic norms, strengthening democratic set ups, providing a platform to all the political forces having mandate of representing the masses to discuss their problems, highlighting the issues confronting the citizen at micro or macro level, international relations or the internal affairs. These ‘houses’ are the only forums who have the full authority to monitor the executive, bring the rulers in the net of accountability and device strategies to bring the public out of crises. To cut the long story short, the assemblies are the supreme bodies of any country, but only if they come up to the expectations of the constituents and play their effective role, that is guaranteed and associated with them in the constitution. In every state of the world that is out of the cruel clutches of autocracy, the assemblies are a symbol of dignity and grandeur due to their working.
The Punjab Assembly, and this I say with a heavy heart, has lost all its dignity as the functioning of this ‘august house’ has deteriorated to an alarming degree – notably, since new alliances have become into being in the House – the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has parted ways with the majority party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and joined hand with the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) while a faction of the later has emerged as the Unification Group and enjoys all the blessings of the treasury. The ongoing session is the first one after these developments and rowdyism has become order of the day. What goes on in the assembly sometimes amounts to nothing less than downright hooliganism, and even thuggery as ‘indiscipline’ is a very poor expression to narrate the situation being witnessed from the galleries since Friday, March 12, a day when the 23rd session of the current session started. If having a chance to witness the proceedings, the voters who elected these unruly members of the assembly, look on in helpless disbelief as their elected representatives continue to embarrass them and the country and, above all, defaming the institution of parliament.
Look at the proceedings of the current session’s four working days —the 23rd session of the current legislator. It was the first day of the PPP in opposition in the Punjab Assembly and they tried to prove their presence but the modus operandi that they opted for was negative rather than positive —they made the House hostage for five working hours and not a single minute was utilised for constructive work and the speaker was forced to adjourn the house until Monday. What happened on Monday was not a different story, but with only one difference of the newly appointed Opposition Leader Raja Riaz’s speech who spoke for only 15 to 20 minutes and the rest of the time was spent on a ‘chanting slogan competition’ and the House was adjourned with out taking up any business. On the third working day, Tuesday; this despicable state of affairs was quite evident when a turncoat, Dr Tahir Ali Javed, entered the chamber. The scene in the House was as if the gates of ‘bedlam’ had been opened. The ‘honourable’ representatives of the public that were sitting on the opposition benches shouted with full throat ‘lota, lota.’ A matching response was given from the treasury benches and the ‘respected legislators’ sitting on the two sides of the political divide in the House started ‘praising’ the leadership of each other. Certainly this is the new pattern of political behaviour that the masses perhaps never expected in this country in the days when democracy was functioning and elected governments were working at all levels.
It was a ‘private members day’ and beside other agenda items, six resolutions of public interest were on the list of business to be taken up but what happened, just see— the day’s proceedings started one hour and five minutes late from its scheduled time. Verses from the holy Quran and Na’at were recited, taking hardly 10 to 15 minutes, and the speaker announced to take up the question hour. Not a single word was uttered regarding the question hour from any side, as a member took the floor on a point of order and raised the issue of the doctors’ strike. A few members joined his cause and the house discussed the matter for some minutes, less than 15 and the speaker agreed to form a special committee to thrash out the matter and propose a viable solution. These were the moments when Tahir Ali Javed, leader of the decedents group of the PML-Q—the Unification Block entered the House. His arrival was enough to create a rumpus. There were no holds barred and the only spoken word that could be understood was ‘lota.’ The episode continued for more than an hour and the chair was left with no option but to adjourn the House for the next day.
Now look at Wednesday’s proceedings—soon after recitations from the holy Quran and Na’at, the opposition members started chanting slogans. It was the beginning, and the members sitting on the two sides of the political divide in the House started singing. Their ‘melodious songs’ were so ‘sweet’ that every one except the members, were praying for some good. Temperatures were rising and the members were challenging their colleagues, sitting on the opposite side. The ladies were contributing with enthusiasm in the exercise. Challenges were thrown and ‘lotas’ were being offered to the turncoats from the opposition side. Male members were flexing the muscles and the female were giving ‘buck up’ calls. Everything was there except the assembly business. Our respected legislators had completed another day’s task and were happy for ‘winning’ the trophy.
Not a single agenda item was taken up for more than ninety minutes, as the opposition did not allow the treasury to take up any business. The treasury then asserted and the speaker announced to take up the business despite the pandemonium in the house. He directed the official on duty not to open the microphones of the opposition members. The business started and the Opposition Leader Raja Riaz approached the speaker and said if the chair was agreed on dedicating three days for his speech, the House will run smoothly. The offer was not accepted and Raja Riaz reduced his demand to one day and that was also not met. Ok! Adjourn the house for the next day and we will not create such situation tomorrow, was the next offer that also met the same fate. Finally, the parties agreed on a one-hour time for leader of the opposition speech. Raja Riaz started as per agreement but had nothing to say after ten minutes. After mud slugging for ten minutes, he took his seat and the house run smoothly and completed the whole agenda in one hour. This is what our ‘honourable members’ did in the day.
In the three working days, the assembly did nothing as the day’s proceedings started with protests, including noisy ones. The fourth day was however a little bit constructive as six bills were laid and five reports were presented.
Dear legislators! No doubt protest in the House is part of political expression as you are not supposed to be a neutral or apathetic community of business or communication professionals who only have to behave by the strictest politeness rules but there should be some norms, parliamentary traditions to be followed, some rules of business to be obeyed, some rulings to be honoured.
My respected elected members of the august House! Every one admits your ‘right to differ’ but who can support unruly behaviour, who would dare to encourage such attitude? Is the only interesting thing in the House for you is political expression? How long it should be tolerated, you tell?
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