APROPOS the news about protest by the joint opposition in the Senate over police action against protesting employees of Oil and Gas Development Company and the government’s policy of privatising state-run enterprises. Aitzaz Ahsan of the PPP warned the prime minister of withdrawing the opposition’s support to him if he did not change his attitude and policies.

Some other senators also warned the government of dire consequences.

It is strange that all these gentlemen did not utter a word when the schedule of selling OGDC shares was announced or when the process actually started.

They even did not raise objections when it was challenged by the Khyber Pakhunkhwa government in the Islamabad High Court. When the IHC granted a stay order, it was vacated by the Supreme Court.

Now suddenly the opposition has awakened and realised that the attitude and policies of the government are wrong. It seems the parliamentary opposition is playing a part-time role of the opposition and needs someone or some event to remind it of its responsibilities.

Tasneem Hameed

Lahore

Published in Dawn, November 21th, 2014