PUNJAB Prisons Minister Ch Abdul Ghafoor, it seems, cannot stay out of trouble. He won notoriety for his altercation with the Customs officials of Lahore Airport, for checking his guests, but surely he could have better repaid the confidence shown by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in retaining him in his Cabinet, than by attacking the lady members of the Opposition. After the latest display of his temper, which upset the whole House, there should be a re-examination of the enquiry which was held at the time of his original altercation, so the Chief Minister may reconsider the decision to retain him, and do what should have been done then, which was to show Ch Ghafoor the door. However, this in no way supports second-term PML(Q) MPA Bushra Nawaz Gardezi for her action of holding a placard in the House condemning the Chief Minister. First of all, the placard was on an issue which was over, especially after the statement of the Prime Minister, to whom the same charge in no way sticks. Second, it is an old allegation. However, Ms Gardezi and her PML(Q) colleagues probably should not be blamed, because they joined the PML(Q) to gain power, not to sit in the opposition. There are other means of registering a protest, while remaining within the bounds of parliamentary decorum. Placards should be kept to the streets. And the Chief Minister should realize that such defenders as Ch Ghafoor do more harm than good. It is perhaps beside the point that Ch Ghafoor wasted the time of the House. What is more important, did the Treasury avail the opportunity of covering itself in glory which an opposition member's mistake had given it? Ch Ghafoor seems to suffer from a problem, and if the voters of his constituency insist on sending him to the House, no one can gainsay them, but similarly, there is no compulsion on including him in the Cabinet. The Chief Minister needs to weigh the advantages Ch Ghafoor can bring against the disadvantages he brings, both inside the House, and outside.