Daily Times

Parliament is considered to be the supreme forum in the parliamentary form of government like the one we have in Pakistan. Here important decisions regarding the fate of 220 million Pakistanis are taken. Matters of immense critical nature are discussed and debated in the parliament. Additionally, stalemates are broken and the impossible is turned into possible within the parliament.

When such is the standard then here people with less than a superior character are less likely to survive. And even if they survive they are exposed on account of their coarseness. How is one’s personality gauged as unfit within the parliament? The precise answer to this question is one’s meretricious acts within the august house brings one under the people’s radar.

Now assess the behaviour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s cabinet members within the highest echelon of power. Their garish behaviour, as members of a party that promised to bring change, is highly inconsistent with the sacred goal their leadership has ascertained for itself. We ad-nauseam come across slipshod comments on the part of cabinet members. This depicts their lack of exposure to parliamentary politics.

That being said, the incumbent government was expected to carry itself quite decently. For its members didn’t get tired of criticising the status-quo parties for their inappropriate comments. However, now when they are in power they have even excelled their counterparts. Now people long for the already tried ones after experiencing the new guns.

Whatever, such an attitude shows the level of regard for the parliament where the common man’s destiny is written through legislation. We being observers haven’t seen any meaningful debate on any of the critical issues that the people are being confronted with.

In addendum to it, the incumbent government is also less conscientious about the prestige of the senior legislators in the house. They are calling them names and use street language while addressing them. This pattern of dealing mirrors one’s immaturity. Elders are respected regardless of their political or social affiliations. So this trend ought to be retained by the members of the present government too.

Now assess the behaviour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s cabinet members within the highest echelon of power. Their garish behaviour, as members of a party that promised to bring change, is highly inconsistent with the sacred goal their leadership has ascertained for itself. We ad-nauseam come across slipshod comments on the part of cabinet members. This depicts their lack of exposure to parliamentary politics

Nevertheless, the fresh agreement on PAC chairmanship between government and opposition is worth admiring. Both the sides have respected each other’s opinion. It will hopefully pave way for legislation on some significant issues.

Also, the foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi‘s, five resolutions are ready to be presented for legislation soon after the finalization of the PAC conundrum. This kind of advancement will surely change the dysfunctional parliament into a functional one.

All in all, the Parliament plays a central role in changing the lives of millions of Pakistanis. It ought to be run in a serious manner, for it’s a question of the common man’s life.

Parliament’s sanctity shouldn’t be downplayed by flippant gibes. Instead, people oriented policies should be introduced and debated through parliament. So that we can get the maximum benefit of this august forum we fortunately have at present.

The writer can be contacted at asifmahsud44@yahoo.com

Published in Daily Times, December 16^th2018.