IN keeping with the trend of unruly and inconclusive debates on key issues that have become the hallmark of this National Assembly, yet another session of parliament descended into chaos this week. During Friday’s session, opposition MNAs staged a protest around the dais of the speaker and compelled him to adjourn proceedings till Monday as they said the ordinances that were promulgated should have been on the house agenda — a position the government’s adviser on parliamentary affairs Babar Awan accepted. Another protest ensued when the debate turned to inflation, and the speaker invited Minister for Power Omar Ayub to take the floor, even though leading opposition MNAs were not done speaking. This prompted opposition members to again surround the dais, with the speaker declaring they could not “dictate” to him. Although lively debates in a charged atmosphere are hardly uncommon in parliament, this particular Assembly has established a reputation for creating commotion to the point of futility. Perhaps one reason for this is that, unlike previous assemblies where speakers gave the floor to the opposition to speak first and then wrapped up the debate by allowing the relevant minister to talk, this particular Assembly has become a boxing ring where government and opposition MNAs spar. As a result, debate is up in the air while proceedings are dominated by noise and unparliamentary language.

Examples of raucous debate exist in many countries, but our parliamentarians would do well to follow the better ones such as that in the British parliament. Commons debates are often lively, and while MPs may interrupt each other to challenge what is being said, the decorum of the House is maintained. This allows a dynamic debate and provides room for constructive discussion. In Pakistan, the Assembly becomes a fight club and any goal of discussing new laws and burning issues is abandoned. The government should set the tone by observing some etiquette and discipline itself and resist the temptation to come into the Assembly with its gloves on.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2021