LAHORE, Oct 14: If a government official, no matter how junior, refuses to meet an MPA, either to deliberately insult him or in an attempt not to give the legislator an illegal favour, a privilege motion might be moved to bring the official concerned to account.

On the day that the motion is taken up, the MPA would try to present it in the most emotional way, exaggerating the facts to an extent that his colleagues get an impression that this was the worst ever tragedy in history. The mover would want the matter of ‘national importance’ debated extensively, preferably for the whole day, setting aside the rest of the agenda.

He would then seek the house’s relevant committee award an exemplary punishment to the errant official.

On many an occasion investigations have established that such lawmakers try to take an undue benefit of their position to settle a score with the official accused in a privilege motion. This in general is the attitude of our legislators in their personal matters.

But how indifferent was the attitude of the Punjab Assembly towards the great human tragedy which, according to official statistics, took more than 25,000 lives and left some four million homeless. Those affected would continue to feel the aftershocks of the killer quake for the rest of their lives; yet, the august house ‘disposed of ‘ the subject only in 90 minutes on Friday.

The treasury and the opposition passed a resolution expressing solidarity with the victims of the tragedy and donated their one-month salary (about Rs10,000 per member) to the relief fund.

Discussion on the tragedy, praise for the relief activities carried out by the government, failures pointed out by the opposition and the proposals for the future — all this was completed in 90 minutes.

Law Minister Raja Basharat signalled Speaker Afzal Sahi to adjourn the session as enough discussion had taken place, and the chair complied obediently. The legislators streamed out of the house, few suggesting that justice had not been done to the subject. None proposed that the session be continued for some more time.

What was said in the speeches was certainly relevant but far short of enough, because of the magnitude of the tragedy, if for nothing else.

All local and foreign television channels have been giving an extensive coverage to the disaster ever since it took place. They have been highlighting various aspects of the matter and suggesting to the government what needs to be done to mitigate the suffering of the bereaved and the affected. But since our honourable legislators have more important things to do — like earning livelihood to ward off starvation, as some say — they could not spare more than an hour and a half on the matter. Then they dispersed to meet again on Monday.

It’s not clear how many days the session will continue or what subjects will come under discussion during the remainder of the current session.

Even opposition leader Qasim Zia and his deputy, Rana Sanaullah, are not aware of the business to be taken up when the session resumes. They are unaware because they had not taken part in the business advisory committee’s meeting on Thursday which was held to decide the agenda.

Qasim Zia and Rana Sana are not willing to attend the committee meeting because the speaker is not ready to accept them leaders of their respective parliamentary parties. And unless they are recognized, they have no locus standi to sit in the meeting.

Law Minister Raja Basharat had proposed at the end of the previous session that if the opposition leader had any differences with the speaker, he could sit with him (minister) and decide the agenda.

Qasim, however, rejected the proposal on Friday, saying as opposition leader he was supposed to discuss matters with the leader of the house, not the law minister. “Let Pervaiz Elahi attend the meeting and we’ll be there to decide the agenda,” the opposition leader said.

Suggestions made by the MPAs that a doctors’ team should be sent to Azad Kashmir, compensation to the bereaved families be raised, army should purchase more helicopters from its huge defence budget, women and children who have lost their homes be kept at the government buildings and exiled leaders be allowed to return to play their role at this crucial hour need serious consideration by the relevant authorities.