Opposition tasted their medicine

It is really surprising and unprecedented that opposition political parties, who were enjoying the numerical strength of 64 lawmakers, was trounced by its own political tactics with the rejection of no-confidence motion against the Senate Chairman SadiqSanjrani. They could get the support of 50 Senator against the required number of 53.The no-trust motion was tabled after lengthy home work, political drill, series of meetings, a lot of fan fare and tall claims. The prime motive of ousting the Chairman Senate was nothing but a discreet attempt to influence or weaken the ongoing accountability process which is going on to weed out the well entrenched culture of financial corruption that penetrated in the political landscape of country in mid 1980 and became all pervading over the past few decades.

It is worth many appreciations that the conscientious opposition Senators responded to the call of their conscience and voted against the no-trust motion against the Chairman Senate. It was really a difficult and daunting decision if one takes into account the undemocratic amendment which was made in the Political Parties Act of 1975by virtue of certain provisions of 18th Amendment to  gage the voice of conscience of elected members of Parliament and reduce them to mere loyal servant of the party President or Chairman even he may or may not be not be an elected member of any house of the parliament. The decision of conscientious opposition lawmakers of the upper house further raises the level of expectations of the people that the journey towards achieving the goal of a true and participatory democracy will reach its destination. The opposition Senators, who voted against the sheer politically driven move of the top leaderships of their respective parties, have upheld the norms of democracy that strengthen the fundamental of transparency in democratic system.

It was absolutely a self serving attitude to create political instability in the country at a time that direct talks between the United States and the Talban have entered the final stage. Unlike the previous diplomatically inactive PPP and PML-N government, the incumbent PTI government has very intelligently and proactively performed its facilitation role for holding directs talks between the United States to clinch a political settlement of Afghanistan. Islamabad has initiated serious efforts to facilitate meaningful and result oriented intra-Afghan talks to pave the way for the formation of a broad based government in Kabul by the Afghan themselves. ZalmayKhalilzad, US Special representative for Afghan reconciliation has spent nine days in Kabul and before leaving for Islamabad, he hinted at signing a peace agreement with the Taliban. During his visit to Islamabad, the US envoy met the Prime Minister Imran Khan to apprise him about the progress in the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister, while expressing satisfaction at the evolving international consensus and particularly among the world power, strongly emphasised for inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations to chalk out a road map for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. It is pertinent to mention that SuhailShaheen, spokesman for the Taliban Qatar office has said that intra-Afghan dialogue would begin after the timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops is announced.

People  wonder as to what was the need or urgency of writing the script of drama for the ouster of Chairman Senate by ignoring the dynamics of Afghan peace process and rising tension between the US and Iran? The present government is trying to defuse this tension as the US-Iran hostility directly impacts Pakistan like the instability in Afghanistan. Will the leaderships of opposition political parties give chance to reasons in the prevailing regional situation and break out of the self-centered coccon?

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