A heavy agenda awaits the Parliament in days to come. After the SC verdict, the fate of 37 ordinances passed after the November 3 emergency has to be decided. With a strong opposition in Parliament the government will have to work hard to evolve a consensus on controversial issues. A PML-N leader has already said his party would carefully study each and every ordinance before voting. The government has to play a leading role to make the parliament active. Issues like the formation of the Islamabad High Court urgently need to be taken to the relevant parliamentary committee. Important, and in cases highly controversial questions, have to be taken up in days to come, including the fate of Gen. (retd) Pervez Musharraf. A number of political parties are strongly in favour of prosecuting the former dictator. President Zardari's spokesman Farhatullah Babar has however maintained that humiliation already undergone by the former dictator, combined with exile, is sufficient punishment for him. There is also the divisive issue of the NRO, which according to the Attorney General has ceased to exist while Information Minister Kaira believes the SC verdict has had no bearing on the NRO. In case the Ordinance was to be put to vote, it would be opposed by the PML-N, Q- League and a number of smaller groups. The Parliament cannot afford to move in a leisurely fashion as it has done in the past. To ensure the passage of ordinances and laws the treasury has to activate its whips to ensure quorum, which has often broken in the NA and Senate. Relevant ministers and secretaries have to be present in the house during debates on motions and question hours. The Parliament has to realise that unless it puts is act together, its space is going to be encroached upon by the courts or the street power, which is by no means a healthy trend. It has to concentrate more than it is doing on law making and on debating matters of vital national importance. The grievances of Balochistan and South Punjab have to be taken up on an urgent basis and decisions taken. Prime Minister Gilani says the joint strength of the PPP and PML-N is not enough to strike down 17th amendment and 58(2) b. For this a strategy needs to be worked out with the PML-N