ISLAMABAD - As PML-N lawmakers in both houses of the Parliament looked subdued on Monday in the wake of the looming marches on Islamabad, seasoned opposition politicians looked unimpressed with the government's idea of blocking protesters forcefully and warned that applying Newton's law of motion would invite more reaction of supporters of Canadian national Dr Qadri.
"To counter Qadri, you would have to do away with applying the theory of English physicist Newton. Let them come in to Islamabad without placing containers on roads," Aitzaz Ahsan, Leader of Opposition in Senate, advised the government while speaking on the floor.
In an indirect gesture towards Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Ahsan recalled August 17, 1989 when the now embattled PML-N had demonstrated the first long march in the country's history for observing the first death anniversary of military dictator Gen. Ziaul Haq.
PML-N's ministers and Senators in the house looked humbled as the PPP stalwart reminded the day when he as interior minister had allowed the PML-N's long march in Islamabad besides facilitating them to gather at Faisal Mosque.
As most of the PTI and PML-N members were absent from National Assembly session, most of the government ministers present in the lower house preferred to sit in Senate for learning skills from the friendly opposition in the upper house.
Even Mehmood Khan Achakzai sat in the visitors' gallery to listen to the grey-haired Senators in the upper house where almost each grey-haired politician predicted political demise of both Imran Khan and Dr Qadri after the two 'revolutionaries' are done with their Thursday's show in the federal capital.
Aitzaz even dubbed Dr Qadri as the 'dirty man' by arguing that the religious cleric should be told that all revolutions that have taken place in South Asia were non-violent. He lambasted Dr Qadri for leading 'armed revolution' and inciting people on violence. Judging that political forces were on government's side by criticizing the looming political agitation in the country, PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan acknowledged that the government was confused on whether to stop the rallies or provide free entry to protesters.
Senator Haji Adeel of ANP seemed perturbed over making Islamabad a fortress and agreed with Senator Aitzaz that the Newton law of motion will invite more reaction of the fanatic followers of Qadri and Imran Khan.
Some lawmakers brushed aside the impression that a third force was involved in bringing Khan and Qadri to Constitution Avenue arguing that the impression will soon die down after August 14 when no 'third umpire' will own the two violent forces.
Senators including Raza Rabbani and Haji Adeel asked the government to refrain from stopping the protesters predicting that both Qadri and Khan would be the first to leave roads in Islamabad.
"Imran Khan has a problem. The problem is that he is not steadfast. He (Khan) has run away from Peshawar and I am sure he will flee Islamabad soon," a laughter echoed in the house after Haji Adeel defined 'tsunami Khan'.
Deputy Chairman Senate Sabir Baloch in his speech complained that Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has been using foul language about Co-chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari. He regretted that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and little kids in Raiwand too were feeling embarrassed due to the language used by the chief minister.
Inside National Assembly, an unusual calm prevailed due to thin presence of lawmakers although Speaker Ayaz Sadiq seemed lost in his chair. Sadiq represents one of the four constituencies doubted by PTI.