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Pakistani Twitter is fed up with MNAs acting like unruly schoolchildren in the National Assembly

Pakistani Twitter is fed up with MNAs acting like unruly schoolchildren in the National Assembly

They hurled expletives and books, making a mockery of parliament and everyone who voted for them.
16 Jun, 2021

The National Assembly is Pakistan's main representative body, one that is supposed to be filled with public representatives who will give voice to the concerns of the people. On Tuesday it resembled a WWE wrestling arena more than a hallowed institution that makes up one of the four pillars of the state.

Lawmakers from both benches grew violent, hurling copies of the budget and expletives at each other.

The mayhem began when opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif attempted to speak, for a second day, during the general debate on federal budget 2021-22.

Videos widely shared on social media showed PTI's Ali Awan shouting expletives at a member of the opposition and tossing a book at his rival, who hurled it back at him.

MNAs blamed each other for the frenzied violence but at the end of the day, one thing was clear — the National Assembly had been disgraced. MNA Mohsin Dawar said "today was one of the lowest points of Pakistan's parliamentary history" and he wasn't wrong. What can we expect from a nation when its public representatives acted little better than hooligans?

Throwing books, shouting expletives, screaming — this sounds more like a second grade classroom than the hallowed halls of Pakistan's parliament. But unfortunately, this wasn't a classroom, it was our National Assembly, filled with the cream of the country's politicians.

On social media, people were left shaking their heads in disgust and shame. Given the behaviour of some politicians in the past, many weren't too surprised that it came down to actual violence but others had hoped that our esteemed politicians would at least hold something sacred.

As with most times of crisis in Pakistan, social media users used humour to tackle the situation. At this point, all we can say is that it's a coping mechanism.

For some social media users, the scenes were reminiscent of the frenzied violence at lawn sales.

Others used the incident to push for lighter budget books.

Some stars of the day:

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari proving that her voice is as loud as ever.

This guy catcalling during the speeches.

Murad Saeed. Enough said.

These guys who should try out for the Olympics.

And whatever this was.

Here are some unfortunate lessons we learned from the NA session.

There might have been a better use for those budget books

We've never seen one like this before and hopefully we won't see one again, but we wouldn't count on it.

Parliament or a zoo?

This user had some takeaways on men in politics, though to be fair, the women MNAs weren't much better.

The assembly reminded some people of an unruly classroom.

Or a WWE fighting arena. Though if we wanted a WWE fighter to represent us, we'd rather choose John Cena.

We've become jokes across the border already.

This person had a serious question for everyone who elected these MNAs.

While Twitter is full of jokes about the fight, it's not really a joking matter. Our politicians are supposed to represent us but right now, as a nation, we're collectively ashamed to call them our own. We've said it before and we'll say it again — violence, no matter how provoked, is wrong. Our esteemed assembly members should have known better than to make a mockery of parliament. No matter where your politics lie, everyone should condemn our MNAs who decided to show the country exactly how diplomatic and refined they are.

We're fed up with videos and stories about politicians behaving badly. One day, Firdous Ashiq Awan is slapping an MNA on live TV and another Ali Amin Gandapur is telling people to mind their own business when they call him out for letting a child drive. This issue is not specific to any political party or government — we've heard some doozies from opposition politicians in the past. Can all of our politicians please behave? Using expletives because someone else did first or throwing books in retaliation isn't the answer to anything.

Now more than ever, we need politicians we are proud of and ones we can respect. We only hope our politicians can stop their petty fights to become the leaders we need.

Comments

Abbasshah Jun 16, 2021 01:40pm
Unruly ,uncivilised grown ups MNAs ,children’s are so innocent.
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Zahid Jun 16, 2021 01:48pm
What kind of speaker is asad qaiser. He gets daily dictation from imran khan
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Abdul Salam Jun 16, 2021 01:51pm
They are just following the directions given by Honourable Mr Handsome. right @fast track?
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Inayat Jun 16, 2021 01:55pm
There are not educated people they are all property owners or property dealers they don't know why they are in assembly.They came only to get power and do their own work and do what they want do not expect good from them.
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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan Jun 16, 2021 01:56pm
Shutdown these debating clubs and save the money for the nation. The entire nation knows that all the decisions are made elsewhere.
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M. Saeed Jun 16, 2021 02:00pm
-----and this is the top most house making the laws of the nation!
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Farhan Jun 16, 2021 02:15pm
Not one video about opposition shared here. Seems like They can abuse and shout anything as its allowed for them…
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alamgir Jun 16, 2021 02:16pm
whether they belong to the government or opposition they are the wealthy ruling class. this incident is a brief demonstration of their culture, upbringing and their idiosyncrasies. they are untouchable to the common people but not to each other.
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Zain Jun 16, 2021 02:16pm
Shame on you all.
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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani Jun 16, 2021 02:26pm
Having watched the NA's footages again, it appears that a tiny group of PMLN controlled by convicted Nawaz Sharif and his daughter deliberately started the foul language and created unrest. As both NS and Mrs Safdar didn't want Shabaz Sharif to continue his speech - watch the footages again and you will find the culprits. Ban such trouble makers to prevent such shameful incidents in the future.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jun 16, 2021 03:20pm
What a grave, grisly, grim, gross and great tragedy?
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Zahid Jun 16, 2021 03:28pm
What about murad Saeed.he should be banned as well
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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi Jun 16, 2021 03:49pm
Mabrook ULF (thousand in Arabic) Mabrook! The so called our national representatives chosen and elected our electorates have very truly proved that they are really true representatives of our people and whatever they did, both from treasury and opposition, men and women alike, very clearly gives a loud and crystal clear message as to who we are to be honest. What surprises me the most as to where these MNAs have been trained to resort to rowdies seen today in NA? No school, college and university where I have studied earning master and law degree taught me how to do alike. May be their most respected parents, I very much doubt, groomed to bust out in NA is also my question? Will sessions be held in future or not is also a question? What guarantee, if any, that our national heroes will prove to be truly civilized and this will not happen again inside the most prestigious National Assembly is my last question which must be answered and not ignored instead. zaidi4merdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Gul-e-Rana Jun 16, 2021 04:29pm
Good to see corrupt to the core, crooked, thugs, and thieves fighting with each other.
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Asim Jun 16, 2021 07:26pm
True reflection of our PM and opposition leadership!
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Mansur Ul Haque Jun 16, 2021 08:59pm
Showing loyalty with party and it's leaders ( both sides). Hopefully rewarded for this.
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Rafi Jun 16, 2021 10:18pm
Please don't insult the school children by comparing them with lawmakers.
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Jigsaw Jun 16, 2021 10:29pm
These are elected representatives, so they represent our society.
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Haroon Temueri Jun 16, 2021 10:31pm
MNA responsible for this mayhem should all be prosecuted and expelled from National Assembly
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SadFan Jun 16, 2021 11:53pm
Looks more like a football match where the devious ones goes behind the camera to verbally abuse the team's members and then fights starts.
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Zufar Jun 17, 2021 01:36am
the nation is divided like never before, IK and his method of campaigning has divided Pakistanis and filled them with hatred towards one another based on who one supports politically, we are in a dangerous place so far as Pakistani politics are concerned, the role of the facilitators and their continual failure to produce anything favourable for the nation is now open for all to see, give democracy a chance and should it fail which it will let’s then look at a more viable and sustainable system by which Pakistan should be governed.
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Adam Jun 18, 2021 01:42am
@Zufar, that is one of the several common characteristics of Populist leaders. The dividers of people rather than uniters. Examples Trump, Modi.
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