KARACHI:
It is the basic principle of democracy to respect and honour an individual’s right of dissent. This constitutional right of dissent is also an accepted norm in Islamic history. The onus to show tolerance for dissent lies more with those in power than with their political opponents.
Unfortunately, the shameful and irresponsible hooliganism and acts of violence that the people are witnessing ever since the leader of opposition stood up to open the debate following the presentation of the federal budget expose the insanity that has engorged the brains of our politicians. The Speaker failed to restore order and exhibited impartially in performing his role in accordance with democratic and parliamentary traditions. Earlier, the opposition created a lot of noise and distraction when the finance minister presented the budget. There must be some method to this madness. Is this happening at someone’s behest, or does it merely reflect upon the lack of maturity of the parliamentarians and leaders of the house and opposition?
We have witnessed similar scenes and events that took place in 2014 and what followed thereafter. It has become a norm that whenever the Leader of House or the President addresses the National Assembly, the opposition, irrespective of which party it is, resorts to slogan mongering. But, rarely have we witnessed the majority party and federal ministers indulge in acts of violence and create pandemonium. This time around, even a seasoned parliamentarian from the opposition was seen justifying abuses hurled by him as a tradition of his province. There is no such tradition in Punjab, nor in any other province — let me be clear.
The Leader of the House and his supporters should not expect their opponents to cater to their egoistic mindset, while they continue to be rude and abusive. What goes around always comes around.
Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20h, 2021.
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