All focus on passage of military courts bill

Everything went unusually smooth on Tuesday as the National Assembly passed the 28th Constitutional Amendment Bill courtesy dovish, conciliatory moves by the PML-N team led by Senator Ishaq Dar.

And then the watchful, tactful Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s overall supervision. Not a single word offered by the PPP-PTI opposition on Panama issue, even when Premier had turned up in the House after weeks, not months. All of them focused fully on the passage of the new laws with a wish to take away some credit – face saving too. 

Maulana Fazlur Rehman and his JUI bandwagon abstained from voting and didn’t turn up. Naturally, it didn’t get a good deal, and taking a middle road is always beneficial. Jamaat-e-Islami however backed the bill.

Mahmood Khan Achakzai and three others stood their ground by voting against the new law on military courts. 

Jamshed Dasti followed suit, but in the process invited the treasury’s boos and taunts.  During Tuesday’s session, the premier however kept his composure as a bit overwhelmed treasury MPs formed a beeline to exchange pleasantries with him. 

Some forwarded the files for consideration, approval too. For several minutes, Sharif was however all ears to minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, who is these days seen accompanying the premier to especially the Sindh province -- for organizational and earmarking of suitable candidates for elections 2018 too. Off late, PML-N has decided to focus on Sindh.  Can the PPP’s estranged Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, and Fehmida Mirza become a surprise catch for the ruling party, some Sindh legislators think in affirmative? 

The PPP seems a no-go area for the Mirzas and Functional League is in shambles? All this at a time when Marvi Memon, the BISP chairperson, has been cornered for all practical purposes in the ruling party. 

She was alone and aloof in Tuesday’s session, not invited to Premier Sharif’s recent Thatta visit. In the NA, as the tedious process of passage of the Constitutional amendment began, Interior Minister Ch Nisar suddenly landed at the treasury front rows where Senator Ishaq Dar was calling the shots.

From negotiations with opposition on key issues to law making, Dar is PML-N’s all-purpose second in command. On this day too, Dar was approaching everyone on the opposition benches when it came to making small amendments or even re-drafting ToRs of the parliamentary oversight committee.  He readily accommodated inputs, amends by senior parliamentarian Aftab Sherpao, Naveed Qamar, Nafeesa Shah, or even coming from Shireen Mazari. 

The two senior ministers – Ch Nisar for PPP and Kh Asif for PTI – are not that welcome on the opposition benches for their plain talk on political, governance issues. So Dar is the man doing all the spade work, then indulging in hard bargain, till the work is done. He oversaw the smooth passage of 28th Constitutional Amendment (military courts) as well as amendment in the Army Act. And deservedly earns all the kudos.                  

Fresh from a rare ruling party parliamentary party meeting early in the day, it was a hutling-bustlig National Assembly hall with majority of treasury-opposition MPs present.  Most of the opposition leading lights were also present except PTI Chief Imran Khan. His hardcore comrades – Jahangir Khan Tareen and Asad Umar – were also missing, perhaps in solidarity with the top leader. Though Shah Mahmood Qureshi (SMQ) was vigilantly present. 

SMQ factor is always on the rise in the PTI when there is no adventure, street agitation to offer. These are dullest of days for the party. Imran won’t turn up in Parliament till Panama case’s fate is sealed. Everything on a standstill until then.  In between, the PTI chief is fully capable of stirring another controversy – naming those PSL leading light foreign players as “relo kaatas” and “phatecher” already cost the cricketer turned politician heavily. And that too at his own turf, PTI lot naturally would hate to admit. 

PTI presents a different colour in Parliament. The young guns from KP can easily get into emotional over-doze provided the situation demands. Rest of their experienced, mature colleagues from Punjab and Sindh provide the real intellectual input, even at time when party chief Imran Khan launches an indefensible statement or tweet. 

The ruling party MPs, occupying most of the NA seats, are however a unique amalgam. Most of them have to be patient listeners, to react rarely when opposition’s onslaught is too hard to bear for front benches, ministers.      

As the tedious lawmaking went under way on Tuesday eve, one could observe Minister Sheikh Aftab beaming a relieved man, at least for this day, as thumping majority of the ruling party and ally legislators finally flocked the NA hall on the heels of a rare PML-N parliamentary party meeting – that too courtesy the pressing military courts issue. Otherwise, during a normal day session, it would have been like day dreaming.     

Adis, Faryal Talpur and Azra Fazal, know the inside out. Both are eyes and ears of former President Zardari in the parliament, until both Asif-Bilawal duo make it to the Lower house as announced. But now we hear there might be a change of plan as every legislative assembly candidate has to submit his whole financial standing, income, asset declarations etc. PPP top notch may not be ready to take such risks in the winding up days of Panama case. Isn’t it so?