The Backbencher: Speakers wants to see happier faces in the House
For a change, MPAs were prepared and resolutions were passed without any hold-ups.
To make the next session productive, maybe the speaker should forbid the MPAs from leaving the assembly hall. PHOTO: ONLINE
For a change, MPAs were prepared and resolutions passed without any hold-ups
Agha Siraj Durrani is worried that members of the house are depressed. The speaker of the provincial assembly kept asking why they did not look happy.
He was shocked that the MPAs did not show any excitement when he said that after a nine-month-long wait, they could finally sort out the provincial assembly's standing committees. No one thumped their desks or shout 'nay' when the names of the people selected for the assembly committees on law, education and health were announced - much to the disappointment of the speaker.
The MPAs looked like they wanted to get up and leave. The women were busy chitchatting among themselves while the men kept walking in and out of the assembly hall after short phone or chai breaks. It seemed that the only reason they were there was to make up for pulling a disappearing act on Friday.
The speaker, too, was having a hard time keeping his eyes open as the session progressed. Eventually he left and the deputy speaker, Shehla Raza, was asked to step in around 1:10pm.
Once the minister of parliamentary affairs started reading aloud from the several lists of nominated standing committee members, MPAs including Nadir Magsi started yawning and rubbing their chins.
Senior members of the assembly, such as Nisar Khuhro — Manzoor Wassan and Sharjeel Memon, who usually sit in the front row — were busy catching up during the session. Khuhro kept laughing at something Wassan had said.
As Mandhro kept standing up to read the names again and again, Durrani laughed and asked him if he was tired. To which the minister replied, "I am tired but this is something that has to be done."
MQM's Sardar Ahmed was busy reading. He is always doing something. If he isn't reading the newspaper, the MPA is usually going over the assembly's rule book or looking for something in his black briefcase.
He is often called on by the deputy speaker to clarify or confirm rules and regulations of the assembly proceedings.
Monday was also a slow day for Murad Ali Shah to be at the assembly. There was no room to nap as most seats were occupied.
With the committees and all done with, the deputy speaker moved to the privilege motions.
PTI's Khurram Sher Zaman was asked to present his motion first which led to an argument between the opposition and treasury benches.
Mandhro insisted that the matter had been taken up by the chief minister but Zaman kept saying that he felt insulted by the way it had been dealt with. The raising of voices in the assembly seemed to have woken up some of the MPAs who started bickering among themselves.
To make the next session productive, maybe the speaker should forbid the MPAs from leaving the assembly hall. Maybe, just maybe, they might get actual work done.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2014.
Agha Siraj Durrani is worried that members of the house are depressed. The speaker of the provincial assembly kept asking why they did not look happy.
He was shocked that the MPAs did not show any excitement when he said that after a nine-month-long wait, they could finally sort out the provincial assembly's standing committees. No one thumped their desks or shout 'nay' when the names of the people selected for the assembly committees on law, education and health were announced - much to the disappointment of the speaker.
The MPAs looked like they wanted to get up and leave. The women were busy chitchatting among themselves while the men kept walking in and out of the assembly hall after short phone or chai breaks. It seemed that the only reason they were there was to make up for pulling a disappearing act on Friday.
The speaker, too, was having a hard time keeping his eyes open as the session progressed. Eventually he left and the deputy speaker, Shehla Raza, was asked to step in around 1:10pm.
Once the minister of parliamentary affairs started reading aloud from the several lists of nominated standing committee members, MPAs including Nadir Magsi started yawning and rubbing their chins.
Senior members of the assembly, such as Nisar Khuhro — Manzoor Wassan and Sharjeel Memon, who usually sit in the front row — were busy catching up during the session. Khuhro kept laughing at something Wassan had said.
As Mandhro kept standing up to read the names again and again, Durrani laughed and asked him if he was tired. To which the minister replied, "I am tired but this is something that has to be done."
MQM's Sardar Ahmed was busy reading. He is always doing something. If he isn't reading the newspaper, the MPA is usually going over the assembly's rule book or looking for something in his black briefcase.
He is often called on by the deputy speaker to clarify or confirm rules and regulations of the assembly proceedings.
Monday was also a slow day for Murad Ali Shah to be at the assembly. There was no room to nap as most seats were occupied.
With the committees and all done with, the deputy speaker moved to the privilege motions.
PTI's Khurram Sher Zaman was asked to present his motion first which led to an argument between the opposition and treasury benches.
Mandhro insisted that the matter had been taken up by the chief minister but Zaman kept saying that he felt insulted by the way it had been dealt with. The raising of voices in the assembly seemed to have woken up some of the MPAs who started bickering among themselves.
To make the next session productive, maybe the speaker should forbid the MPAs from leaving the assembly hall. Maybe, just maybe, they might get actual work done.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2014.