A Parliament disinterested – a government not delivering
It is true that Pakistan is a unique country in the world and therefore we remain in focus throughout the world. Lately two major events have taken place. The President’s address to joint sitting of Parliament and a very comprehensive press conference by the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif mainly targeting Imran Khan.
The government had called the Joint Sitting Session of the dysfunctional parliament to be addressed by the President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. As reported in the media the quorum was incomplete and only 14 members were present when the President was delivering his speech.
The absence of PTI members is understandable because they have tendered their resignations but what is the justification on the part of government members to stage walk out having invited the President to address joint session of the parliament. This happened when majority of the Ambassador’s of different countries were invited to witness this grand tamasha. Do our members realise the damage caused to Pakistan? It was bad example in the history of parliamentary democracy. Which Article of the constitution allows the treasury benches to remain absent from the session and make mockery of democracy and let down the great institution that provides them so many facilities and perks at the cost of this poor nation that carries burden of foreign debt over 130 billion dollars. Most surprising was the statement of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif who made very derogatory remarks against President Arif Alvi who also happens to be the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Pakistan. His remarks were uncalled for and in bad taste. We never miss any opportunity to make our country laughing stock in the entire world that proves the point we are a unique country.
President Arif Alvi rightly urged lawmakers to end polarisation and demands free and fair elections. A very timely and sensible advise to both PTI and the government to enter in to dialogue to break this confrontation that is in nobody’s interest.
Now a word about Prime Ministers press conference. He spent lot of time on audio leak from PM Office and declared Imran Khan as “Faradia” a rather indecent word coming out from Prime Minister who has always been very careful in selection of his words. Notwithstanding who is the PM no one would like his audio being leaked, but it is no more a secret that their conversations are never safe and are surfaced when deemed appropriate, with mainly two purposes to scandalise and defame the person, therefore as a precaution clever people keep changing the places without the knowledge of protocols officers. Secondly at that highest level of office of Prime Minister it should have been known that no place is safe as we have now most sophisticated recording equipment. Even mobile calls can be monitored any time with receivers matching frequency of different cell operators.
Now coming to the cypher controversy. It appears our leadership is not clear about the cypher message. Cypher means message sent in secret code. After having received the message it is decoded. Our former Ambassador to USA Mr Asad sent cypher message to Ministry of foreign affairs about a high profile meeting took place. Since it was against the interest of state the Ambassador thought it appropriate to bring this in the knowledge of the government that means the Prime Minister. This is SOP followed throughout the world. Tagging the cypher with former Prime Minister is absolutely ridiculous like leakage of audio from PM office and putting blame on IK when the present occupant of PM office is Shahbaz Sharif, This recording is done without the knowledge of occupant of PM office and is used at appropriate time, and it is no more secret who performs this sacred duty. Instead focusing on who carried out the recording and why and who leaked it focuses on IK who himself apparently was ignorant about his own eavesdropping. Since the audio has been leaked now so it is the responsibility of incumbent government to find out who has done it, if their focus remains on IK it will be waste of time and counterproductive. In recent press conference PM called Imran as liar and a fraud and blamed him on cipher issue that resulted putting foreign relations at stake. PDM calls it false narrative. Can someone explain how a cipher message sent by Pakistan Ambassador from USA to Ministry of foreign affairs has damaged foreign relations of Pakistan. It is a routine and SOP followed by our ambassadors deployed in different countries.
It is just ridiculous and devoid of logic to say that it spoiled our foreign relations. It is exclusively private affair of government. This clearly shows government is on wrong track, I fail to understand why our foreign Secretary is quiet he could have briefed the government on cypher issue to avoid this embarrassment .It May also be mentioned here that no one can change the text of cypher after it has been dispatched from the embassy.
One of the leaked audio tele-conversations between Imran Khan and his members reveal how to handle the cypher message received from our ambassador in the USA. Imran is heard cautioning them to avoid naming the US as the source that threatened the country of dire consequences if the no trust motion against the PTI fails. PM Shabaz Sharif in his latest press conference has charged Imran Khan of treachery for discussing the contents of secret confidential document. He disclosed the contents when he was prime minister. The first conclusion one can draw is the transcript and its contents are real that is now worrying PDM. This goes to Imran’s credit cautioning to avoid naming the US in avoiding a confrontation with super power even when it was conspiring and threatening the very existence of his government. How it can be a treachery?
And finally, if Imran Khan’s statement about declassifying the transcript by the cabinet is true, revealing its contents publicly is not an issue. That means the cipher message existed.
His lordship of Islamabad High Court has repeatedly turned down PTI’s petitions challenging the decisions of the parliament as it refuses to interfere in its working. That is highly appreciable. It is hoped that this stand applies to the decisions of the PTI as well, when they were in power.
Lastly it is true that change of government came through vote of no confidence the right method to change the government, but its modus operandi was wrong. The change is brought with in house by showing majority of votes but in this case Superior Courts were opened late night, troops deployed, prison vans called that’s not the way to deal vote of no confidence motion, hence the present commotion. There is no room of further confrontation. Enemies of Pakistan are very active so let us beat them by holding elections otherwise it may end up in bigger disaster.
