Defiance in distaste

Unbecoming delaying tactics on part of govt were tantamount to contempt of court, politically in a bad taste

Defiance was on the cards, as the National Assembly went into session on Saturday on the orders of the Supreme Court. The treasury seemed in no mood to honour the mandate of the top court, and was somehow trying to bulldoze the prime agenda of conducting a vote on the no-trust motion against the PM.

The treasury was apparently prolonging the business, on a Point of Order, in the guise of Speaker’s autonomy to conduct the house as per his acumen granted under the Constitution. But for the opposition legislators, who were waiting for the vote to happen, it was contempt of court. Despite constant reminders from the opposition during the daylong proceeding, the resolution was not put to the vote. The sporadic speeches that followed from both sides were in negation of what they were there for the day. The government ministers brought up the ‘letter-gate’ and offered for an in-camera session, but the opposition brushed it aside and called it a doctored memo from the Foreign Office, and insisted on abiding with the procedural voting as laid down by the apex court.

Saturday’s proceedings, nonetheless, were calm in essence and the decorum of decency prevailed. Each side was forthcoming in allowing enough space to the other. But they were all keeping their fingers-crossed as to when the Speaker would put the motion to vote. Thus, the opposition was closely guarding its numerical strength in the house, and was quite conscious of any foul play from the ruling strata.

Notwithstanding the fact that the PM and the Speaker had agreed to implement the court orders for the day, their dubious intentions were quite evident day long. The government reportedly moved the Supreme Court for a review against the April 7 ruling, praying that the supremacy of the parliament has been infringed upon. Likewise, the calling of a hurried Cabinet session late in the night confirmed that the government was avoiding the vote on the fateful day. Last but not least, references against the dissidents in the PTI were moved to the Speaker’s chamber. This could be a last resort to intimidate and win back them too. The unbecoming delaying tactics, however, on the part of the government were tantamount to not only contempt of court but also politically in a bad taste at the cost of brewing anarchy.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2022.

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