They came; they dispersed

The opposition seemed concerned and restless as the Speaker adjourned the sitting without tabling the resolution

Contrary to expectations, an aura of semblance prevailed in the National Assembly. As the lower house convened on Friday, apparently to take up the no-confidence motion tabled against the Prime Minister, it was adjourned till Monday evening as a mark of precedent after offering prayers for departed members. It was a convention that overshadowed what was supposed to be a fireworks session though. But the silence of the lambs was evident, and it hinted at a storm in the making in days to come. The opposition, nonetheless, seemed concerned and restless too, as the Speaker adjourned the sitting, and retired to his cabin, without tabling the resolution. Speaker Asad Qaiser, however, went on record to state that it’s an established norm to defer the agenda of the house in due respect to the deceased lawmaker, and this had happened more than 24 times in the past.

The august house is seized with a 15-point agenda, but the no-trust tops the theatrical order to come. An interesting aspect noticed was the numerical strength of the opposition, which had 159 members present. This means they were short of their normal opposition tally of 162. The body language of both the treasury and the opposition members exhibited as they are holding their cards close to the chest, as well as their dark horses. The governmental allies, including the MQM-P, PML-Q, BAP and GDA, are still sitting on the fences and their inclination will seal the fate of the resolution. Likewise, the adjournment has set in some valuable space for maneuvering till the house is reconvened on March 28, and by then much water would have passed underneath the bridge.

All eyes are now set on the Supreme Court, which is hearing a presidential reference against defection of lawmakers. The apex court’s ruling will make it crystal clear as to where the simple majority stands, and literally take out steam from the no-trust resolution. Last but not least, the rallying of political forces over the weekend, especially the ruling PTI’s flexing of muscles in the federal capital, will have far-reaching ramifications on the political mosaic, as well as for the powers-that-be behind the curtain. Till then it’s a fingers-crossed modus operandi for legislators on both sides of the divide.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2022.

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