October 19, 2006

Legislation making is a serious business, but how many honourable members of our graduate assemblies take it seriously? Hardly a single day passes by without the sittings of the august houses of parliament being adjourned due to the lack of quorum or because the members of the opposition staging their token walkouts.

The members of these assemblies have been elected through a process of adult franchise. Unlike the past, they have an academic background and therefore, at least theoretically, they are expected to play their part with a genuine sense of participation. Enormous amount of time, money and resources are wasted in raising peripheral issues at the cost of genuine problems of the people, which need immediate attention.

Take the example of the Sindh Assembly which presents a classical case of apathy. Some political parties have a genuine complaint that the current government does not truly represent the hopes and aspirations of the people and therefore cannot present the case of Sindh effectively. They think that the conglomeration of like-minded (read opportunist) political elements has been brought about to suit the questionable agenda of some ambitious individuals.

The Assembly has met for 52 days in the present calendar year and 18 more sittings are expected to be held. But what is the total outcome? There had been lots of booing and shouting against each other. Baseless allegations have been hurled at the members of the house. The speaker of the house or the presiding member has not been given any respite to look at the agenda of the day, which is the main business of the house. Half of his/her time is spent in making futile efforts to restore order in a rowdy house and prevent the members from using abusive language against their colleagues.

A legislature can function effectively and smoothly only with the active participation of both sides of the assembly. It should be the responsibility of the government benches to maintain quorum in the house. At the same time, the opposition members should come to the house fully prepared to present their case forcefully. A legislature is not a debating club. It is a sacred institution and its dignity must be maintained at all costs.

The present session of the Sindh Assembly has several major issues on its agenda. It has to discuss and formulate its views on the construction of Kalabagh dam; discuss the merits or demerits of the reconstituted National Finance Commission. The most irritating problem with wide ranging implications is that of the grave situation in Balochistan, particularly after the demise of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. Besides these burning issues, Sindh’s own problem is that of the torrential rains which have wreaked havoc in various parts of the province. The failure of the Kesc to keep a normal flow of electricity is another irritant.

The mysterious disappearance of some journalists is also an extremely important issue, which demands the immediate attention of the assembly members. How many of these issues have been taken up by the MPAs effectively and with what result? This is a question which the people should ask forcefully.

Unfortunately, the only matter in which both sides of the house are equally interested is the rise in their privileges. The nation is spending millions on its elected representatives. Their perks and privileges are already too many. The law of diminishing returns operates here with a vengeance.

Now that hopefully we are going to have our elections next year, we must fasten our seatbelts and be prepared for the contest. This is going to be a crucial election. Although the chiefs of the two major political parties ––– the PPP and the Nawaz Muslim League ––– will probably not be allowed to launch their election campaigns and their parties will have to work with many constraints and visible disadvantages. The destiny of the nation depends a great deal on the outcome of the elections. However, if the members of the legislatures continue to fight imaginary battles among themselves instead of organising their rank and file, the result could be catastrophic.

We must look around to see how the legislators work in other parts of the world. Sweden’s most popular leader, Olaf Palme, lived in a two-room apartment, drove his own car and his wife worked in a bakery. He never demanded any special perks or privileges. He trusted his people and was unfortunately killed on a street. He did not seek any extraordinary protection or protocol. We do not want our legislators to be killed. But they must fulfill their constitutional obligations as members of the assembly as there is no substitute for honesty.

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