Day 3 of the joint session: United House alone can defend democracy, says Rabbani

Ashan Iqbal defends government’s stance, says PTI, PAT won’t get their way even after 500 years of protests

ISLAMABAD:

On the third day of the emergency session of parliament on Thursday, more members of the bicameral house rallied behind the government, voicing reservations against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) return to the legislature.

A day after Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah declared that parliament had won the day, Senator Raza Rabbani cautioned fellow parliamentarians over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) return to the house, their re-engagement in talks and their parting of ways with the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

“I don’t subscribe to the views expressed yesterday that parliament has emerged victorious,” said Rabbani, insisting that the battle was still on and warning that some quarters might try to create rifts in the ranks of democratic forces.

The PPP stalwart pointed out it was not the first attack on parliament. “There have been such attacks in the past but this is the first time that all democratic forces have stood firm in the defence of parliament.”

“Only a united parliament can tackle the challenges faced by the democratic setup in Pakistan,” he said. After the abolishment of 58 2(B) through 18th amendment, hidden forces brought their proxies in the field to destabilise the system, he added.

Hitting out at the government, he said that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz administration was not taking the legislative body seriously and the prime minister’s absence from the house was giving room to conspiracies.

Critiquing the ruling party for its stance over devolution – initiated after the introduction of 18th Amendment – Rabbani said if the government tried to undo the devolution process, other three provinces would fight against the move. “Centralisation will lead to trust deficit and polarisation,” he added.

Taking a swipe at PTI and PAT, Rabbani said that parliament would not tolerate any assault, “Members of this house will lay down their lives but would not allow desecration of parliament.”

In a direct attack aimed at the firebrand PAT chief, Rabbani equated his actions to radical Hindu leaders who demolished Babri Masjid in India’s Uttar Pradesh state and claimed they never gave direct orders to bring the mosque down.

Launching into a tirade against the PTI and PAT leaders, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal said “I want to tell Imran and Qadri that even if you sit here for 500 years, you will not be able to do anything to the government and democracy. This is a war for the supremacy of Constitution and we will take it to its logical conclusion,” he added.

“We have agreed to five out of six of your demands. What better deal do you want? Now please end the sit-ins and let the country move forward,” Iqbal made a humble request to chiefs of PTI and PAT during a charged speech on the floor of the house.

The PML-N leader scoffed at protesters for using women and children as human shields and recalled commitments made by PTI chief whereby he had agreed not to enter the Red Zone.

In a reply to PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the PML-N leader said that the political quarters in the country had not failed but it was Qureshi and his party who had severed ties with the political fraternity which were guarding democracy in the country.

Incensed by PAT leader’s speeches, Iqbal said that Qadri delivers inflammatory rhetoric aimed at inciting violence in Urdu but conveniently switches to English while preaching peace and harmony to his followers.

Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) leader Mushahid Hussain Syed said parliament should not just be a debating society. During his speech the PML-Q leader quashed rumours of a military takeover. “The ball is in the PM’s court, because it’s a one man show,” he added.

Interestingly, Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed who had earlier announced he would resign from his seat in parliament as per the pact with PTI made a brief appearance and quietly stepped out of the house without delving into the debate.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2014.