Pakistan: True Lies

There was so much hot air generated in Parliament on Wednesday that one thought the building would lift and hover above the righteous mob outside to provide shelter from upcoming rains. Shah Mahmood Qureshi led the heating with claims that the protests must be applauded for being so peaceful, “This parliament is our political ‘Ka’aba”. Even the Speaker Ayaz Sadiq called him out mentioning the broken gate outside. PTI has made itself into a joke that no body is laughing at, and the government, in a sudden change of narrative, is being hailed for its maturity in allowing PTI members who had tendered their resignation to address the House at all.

Aftab Sherpao accused PTI of being hand in hand with PAT, and now PTI is trying to back away and assert its independence. Unfortunately, few now believe Mr Qureshi. He denied responsibility for the actions of PTI supporters during the riots of the last few days saying, “I do not command them. I do not lead them.” It was ironically reminiscent of Shahbaz Sharif denying any knowledge of the Model Town Massacre. No body believed Mr. Sharif either.

That a million people were with the PTI has been questioned again and again in the assembly. The media has been lamented for being obsessed with the march while forgotten IDPs languish. Balochi Senator Hasil Bizenjo stated he had never before seen such a lavish “struggle” with free meals served three times a day. And it is indeed a fact; this has been three weeks of merrymaking in the PTI camp. Shah Mahmood blamed the attack on the PTV offices on PAT. Khurshid Shah thought that was great, because PPP always recommended that PAT not be allowed to march. Which caused Qadri to almost lose his lunch on television later saying that the attack was carried out by the PML-N, rather than putting the onus back on PTI.

Really, it was all rather tragic. It is sad that only mob politics has made these politicians come together in parliament (without a single phone-call or reminder, Aftab Sherpao stressed, as though this alone was democracy’s great victory). So they all came, through backdoors and hidden doors and they let out some steam. Well, now what? Apart from the ideologically appropriate backing to an embattled government, what have been the constructive points to have emerged? None. Wednesday was an exercise in the frustrated ravings of those left in the shadows. With so many MPs backing Sharif, perhaps Imran Khan will see his own political isolation and end the circus. So we can all collect the pieces, and move on.