Scoring game of politicians

Constant failure of law and order in Karachi, the financial capital of the country, is forcing people at the grassroots level to lose confidence in manageability and capacity to govern on part of the political forces in the country. Since all the parties involved in the so-called infighting were in power in Sindh and law and order is a provincial subject under the Constitution, they are simply unable to shift blame on to any fourth quarter. If the ruling coalition partners could not co-exist in the provincial capital, what could be anticipated of their vows of so-called reconciliation at the centre level? Apart from the political parties' respective stance, those losing their loved ones to the target killers must be praying for Pakistan Army to step in so that they could have sense of protection. All the confounded confusion, dissemination of misinformation and blame game was to the add insult to the injuries of public sentiment. More alarmingly, it was to earn bad name for political governance that has already confronted with credibility or trust deficit as against every ready 'alternate' rulers. Politicians on the other hand being mindful or oblivion of this alarming tendency of masses loses faith in the so-called democratic system, were busy in their routine point scoring game from top to bottom. Whether you watch a stereotyped TV talk show or sit in the Press Gallery of the Parliament wherein elected representatives are supposed assert the supremacy, same superficial debate missing the core of the problem would be available without even a 'commercial break'. Chaudhry Nisar Ali, the Opposition Leader in National Assembly by title at least, tried to make a momentum of the last session of ongoing Parliamentary year by using verbosity of "Karachi bleeding." Still he had to talk about the PPP's internal issue of Nabeel Gabol chiefly to draw attention of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani sitting in the House at that time. Premier Gilani also wasted no time and stood up to balance off the score not only with Khan but also with Faizal Saleh Hayat of PML-Q with his typical delicacy and pacifying as well as assuring style. In a few minutes and by responding only selected points he had created a spell of his all-is-well syndrome. Gabol's personal explanation gave PML-N's second tier leadership like Khawaja Saad Rafiq to make a point and show presence. Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kunid's denial to give the floor to Rafiq promoted backbenchers to raise hue and cry in his favour indicating that they were also there. So much so that the Leader of Opposition stood up to request the floor for Rafiq, without bothering the decorum of the session. Underlining it as a point scoring game, the Deputy Speaker scored one over Rafiq and gave him the floor but after saying, "I give it to you on the Opposition Leader's recommendation." Rafiq had to react and he refused to talk on anyone's recommendation as against his personal prerogative of speaking as member of the House. That was perhaps enough to create a scene in the Lower House irrespective of the fact that both leaders of the House and that of the Opposition were present and it was in session. Akhundzada Chitan took it as a sufficient chance to make him noticed in the session especially when the Prime Minister was also present. He shouted at Saad Rafiq to sit down. Newly elected member from Rawalpindi Shakil Awan also wanted to graduate from mere position of mere backbenchers. Thus he dutifully stood up and shouted in reaction to Chitan's yelling at Rafiq. Resultant was a rumpus that could have led to a physical scuffle if not prevented by seniors of both the parties in time. Bottom line, unfortunately, emerges as the politicians additively indulged in childish game of gaining cheep political mileage by hitting opponents were fast heading to the loser's end against the establishment always conspiring to win legitimacy, even as lesser evil, to rule.