ISLAMABAD: Apart from the customary ‘friendly fire’ between Chaudhry Nisar Ali and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, parliamentarians seemed to be more interested in talking about two personalities throughout Wednesday, namely an emotionally charged Raza Rabbani and the cool and calculated Gen Kayani, in the light of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms and the ongoing Pak-US strategic dialogue.
To add a little spice to their discussion, some of them were also seen discussing the two by-elections in Gujrat – a contest between parties of the fractured Chaudhrys and circumscribed Sharifs, and DI Khan – between ‘Maulana Diesel’ and Faisal Kundi.
Seasoned campaigners were of the view that both Rabbani and Kayani had helped the dwindling fortunes of the government in one way or the other, albeit having too much to deal with, especially a common fear in the form of a roaring judiciary. As discussants were giving their views on difficulties both have had to face throughout the past two years, activities of some black coats in the corridors attracted their attention to divert the topic from khakis and politicians to the rising tumult of black robes. They were scampering through the stairs towards law branches of the assembly secretariat and were soon seen fetching back cyclo-styled papers with them.
A senior Pakistan People’s Party legislator said that institution-building efforts of both Rabbani and Kayani needed to be explored, but hijacking of the institutions also needed due attention. He mentioned a “Sheriff of the judiciary” in Punjab who is being dubbed as a cause of major concern for My Lords in Islamabad and being one of their own, they are finding it hard to hold back his hidden-councillor-motives and moves mimicking politicians. Citing the resignation of some lower judiciary members, he said that so far only one had been made public while some more are in the pipeline and that once both the strategic dialogues and constitutional reforms were dealt with, both khakis and civilians would have to sit down and think about harmonising them.
Another senator from FATA took the mike from to state that the issue of AJK’s Supreme Court is soon going to become an “Achilles heel” for all sides. Being privy to “some developments”, he said that very recently a “message” was conveyed to My Lords to refrain from jumping into an issue, which could embarrass the country. He said the messengers had an exclusive meeting in the suburbs of Islamabad to ensure its secrecy and after finding the first one not bearing any fruits a reminder was sent through the same ‘liaison officers’, but nothing seemed to have deterred the men in decision-making roles from dealing with the issue in their own way.
By that time, a senior member of the black-coats’ movement entered the debate to hesitantly second the senator and then to disclose that the ‘messengers’ should also look into the conduct of the attorney general, who insisted My Lords to take up the issue despite the fact that they were not ready to entertain the matter. Once they entered, he said then they decided to hold their ground until 14 days of relief lapsed. Therefore, he insisted that either there is disconnect between the ‘messengers’ and the AG or the latter was playing “some tricks” to earn disrepute for those who were being worshiped by the ordinary as saviours of all our ills.
What concerned the senior lawyers more was the growing perception that the restored Lords might take up the issue of constitutional reforms as he said that sometimes perceptions out-pace realities hence prompting a pre-emptive move from the opposite side. He was visibly upset when he mentioned some of the frequent visitors to the highly fortified residential colony of black robes and uttered this before heading towards a client’s table, “Caesar needs to be more watchful and mindful of Brutus than anything else, especially from those equipped with agenda-setting stingers”.
The remaining cluster of politicians and few journalists were left rumbling about these familiar Roman characters, but soon were given a much lighter topic when a fresh horde of Nawaz Leaguers entered the room to announce the grounding of Chaudhrys’ in Gujrat. A jiyala from a far off bench also announced the downfall of ‘Maulana Diesel’ in the Dera battle with an equally vibrant tone. What ensued was no rocket science, because one side was piling up all the dirt on the Chaudrys’ while the other was counting the gambits of ‘Maulana Diesel’. Finally both jiyalas and Nawaz lovers joined hands to commemorate their role during Gen Musharraf’s days.
A silent observer also lightened up to add that the Chaudhrys might find it hard from here on in Punjab, because Shahbaz’s intents are no secret and the way Chaudhrys have blamed the PPP after their defeat, they might not find much refuge from the centre.
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\25\story_25-3-2010_pg7_1
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