Interview: Dr Mirza fears political crisis

Calls for accord between govt, opposition on PM’s conviction.

KARACHI:

National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza fears a major political crisis in May and June if the opposition and the government fail to reach an understanding on the conviction of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

“I’m hoping against hope that better sense will prevail and all stakeholders will realise their responsibility towards national interest,” she told The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

“I am really worried about the prevailing situation because the timing is bad. There are two major issues – the budget and the composition of the Election Commission – which must be resolved to avert economic and political anarchy,” said Dr Mirza.

Role in deciding PM’s future

Under the Constitution, the speaker is required to send a reference to the ECP within 30 days if she thinks the prime minister stands disqualified in light of the apex court verdict in the contempt case.

But Dr Mirza said it was not clear when the period of 30 days would end. “There is a little confusion about whether we should count 30 days from the date of the short order (April 26) or the date of detailed judgement (May 9),” she said. “Then there is going to be an appeal. I’m consulting lawyers and constitutional experts to reach a decision.”

Asked about the letter sent by the Supreme Court’s additional registrar to her office, the speaker said she was consulting her aides about it. “We should set a good precedent for the party which wins the next general elections,” she added. Dr Mirza was quick to point out that her role was not limited to that of a postman delivering a reference to the ECP. “The Constitution empowers me to apply my mind and to make a decision in this regard,” she said. She also clarified that “there are articles only to be interpreted by the speaker”.

Opposition

While visibly disappointed by Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s stance on the issue, aired by the electronic media and communicated in a letter addressed to her, Dr Mirza said that she still hoped that parliamentarians on the other side of the aisle would behave and participate positively in parliamentary proceedings.

“This campaign really hurts me,” she said, while defending that the resolution adopted in favour of the prime minister was well within the rules. She said that it was the choice of the ruling party to bring in a resolution and as the rules permit the same, it was a decision by the person in chair.

Chaudhry Nisar’s letter specifically referred to this resolution, moved by Federal Law Minister Farooq Naek reposing confidence in the convicted prime minister.

Asked if there was any precedent of adopting a resolution in favour of a convicted prime minister in the world, the speaker did not give a direct reply. “It was not against the court, but was in favour of the prime minister,” she said.

She referred to rule 30 and 31 of the Rules of Business of the lower house and said that these govern the conduct of a member of the assembly.

“I have not issued notices to any parliamentarian or members of the opposition and instead have invited them for an exchange of views aimed at the smooth functioning of the house,” the speaker said.

But along with the olive branch, Dr Mirza also held out a warning, referring to different rules which call for the temporary expulsion of a member besides providing that a member can be expelled from the elected houses for the entire session.

Performance of parliament

Dr Mirza disclosed that 70 per cent of the legislation comes from women parliamentarians who are more active than their male counterparts. She also referred to parliament’s achievements in the arena of women’s rights. “Pakistan is internationally known for terrorism and bomb blasts, but no one highlights record legislation on women issues,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2012.