ISLAMABAD:
Theatre is all about execution.
You don’t sit through a Beckett play wondering if Godot will be found. It’s about to what degree the audience is convinced that the actors truly believe if Godot will be found.
Saturday’s joint session was nothing if not scripted down to the commas.
Never threatening to defy expectations in the first place, the script of the speech by President Asif Ali Zardari was already leaked to the media on Friday night, and portions of an ‘unofficial preview’ printed in The News.
As for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s protest, the plans were all but printed in Saturday’s edition of The Express Tribune.
It was, therefore, basically only down to judging execution – and it was poor for the most part.
As anticipated, the protest began with a slogan from PML-N’s Abid Sher Ali – who got up from his seat right after the Quranic translation ended and before the speech began (at almost exactly 2 pm).
“Loot maari bandh karo!”
“Order in the house!” said Speaker Fehmida Mirza, without the slightest hint of surprise in her voice.
Sher Ali was followed by the rest of the PML-N’s motley crew, who all rose from their seats as the president made his way to the podium to speak.
Their slogans were drowned out temporarily by thunderous desk-thumping from the treasury benches.
Obviously the thumping couldn’t continue, as the president had to actually speak.
And so the slogans continued. Sher Ali in the middle and Pindi’s Shakeel Awan – PPP’s very own Babar Awan’s nephew – at the back.
The president continued – his voice faint, something about a quote by his late wife – seemingly unhindered.
Awan, Sher Ali and co. eventually merged somewhere near the middle portion of the house, while Dar and Chaudhry Nisar remained standing at their seats. Silent. Sher Ali, meanwhile, was ferocious, gesticulating wildly, calling his fellow party members forward. Someone from the opposition stopped him.
“Bhattakhori band karo!”
Eventually, the prime minister began looking at Dar. And then Dar at him. It was 2:10 – 10 minutes since the noise began. Was the PML-N being naughty and deviating from the script?
“Zardari ka jo yaar hai, ghaddar hai, ghaddar hai”
“Order in the house!” came an almost casual reminder.
The next exchange of glances came around 2:15 pm – and the PML-N began to hit the exits.
Five minutes. That was the PML-N rebelliousness. Forced and, quite frankly, placid.
On to the president, then.
Until then, you couldn’t really tell how the president was doing. His voice could be heard, but was obviously drowned out. But once the slogans stopped, and it was just the president’s speech, it became apparent that his voice was not just drowned out by the protest.
Having watched the president’s positive progress in terms of public speaking over the years, this was well below par. There were stumbles, mumbles and mispronunciations – reminiscent of his first few public speeches. He seemed shaky. In fact, towards the end of his speech he called parliamentary oversight and democratic accountability “impotent” instead of “important.”
The jitters started early with his chair falling – literally, not figuratively – as he rose to speak.
It was not one of the finer moments of a president that has seemed confident even at the bleakest of times. No amount of desk thumping, which was conspicuous by its increasing frequency, could buoy him up by the looks of it.
Had the PML-N made an impact? Was it just relief that the protest was over? Truth be told, this is the first time the president is facing something like this – having been able to masterfully control and avoid such situations.
Or is the president still struggling with his health, perhaps?
As all of this was unfolding, VIP spectators looked on.
The diplomats seemed aghast – hastening to put on their earphones to hear the president’s speech, trying their best to look beyond the protesters and at the dais.
Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, however, seemed most entertained. While the protest was going on, he hardly looked towards the president. He occasionally leant over to Gen Khalid Shamim Wynne to say something. But after the PML-N had walked out, the army chief seemed almost bored, swiveling and stirring his baton at his feet on a number of occasions – like he was cooking something, or casting spell.
The restlessness continued as the president spoke about Balochistan, China and the role of his allies.
A few swivels and fidgets later, he looked at his watch. You couldn’t tell his expression – it was too far.
“Pakistan Zindabad.”
It started 22 minutes late. At least it ended on time.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2012.
COMMENTS (7)
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What else he can do!!
Funny
What awesomeness! :D i want to read more of such stuff! :p
...are you saying the protest by PML-N was scripted in Zardari's speech plans and they were published in places where both parties probably knew it happened when it did prior to the event? I ask because that would be so dumb even someone trying to be completely neutral wouldn't be able to come up with something that makes it understandable pending on your view point. In other words, just plain stupidity. So stupid that I'm questioning my own reading comprehension skills.
@author, AZ is not an eloquent speaker, we know that. He has never tried to be one, we are aware of that too. He is ambitious, and he is a perfect executor. That is what actually counts. What Kiyani does or feels in the presence of the president is, frankly, quite immaterial as it is all about being cunning than other at the end, not glib. PML-N's protests on Saturday was uncalled for. But the Punjabi middle-class(ness) was at its zenith yesterday.