From A Ringside Seat

Parliamentarians of Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz wasted most of the time of the Lower House in trading allegations and did not hesitate even in mudslinging on each other about what have been transpiring between their leaderships in the past.
Most of the time sitting was wasted by both the parties on point scoring except raising the issue of drone attacks which is counter productive as far as national interest is concerned. The people were very happy with the advent of democracy in the country as they thought that their elected representatives will resolve the long standing issues and protect their rights, but their problems multiplied.
Leader of the Opposition did nothing concrete except marathon speeches and repeating the same things again and again. The major problems the country is facing today are price hike, energy crises, widening balance of trade deficit and swelling debt which is adding to the economic hardships of the country and no near solution seems insight.
Nisar went on criticising the government saying that another National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) is in the offing, which will help save the government and 'trample' judiciary. Drone attacks which are turning counter productive and many a times protest was lodged with the US Administration but the US is turning deaf ear to the issue. On the other hand the Chief of Air Staff has categorically said that we have the capability to stop such attacks if the government so desires. During the speech of opposition leader the members also raised slogans against President Zardari and the government while walking out of the house in furious mood.
Responding to the opposition leader, Federal Minister Syed Khursheed Shah delivered emotional speech in the House. In his speech he mentioned party sacrifices and struggles of 10 years for restoration of democracy.
He said our leader did not run away with signing agreement of 10 years with a dictator. We did not hold secret meetings with generals in dark of night. Our leader sacrificed their life for the people of Pakistan and democracy, he added.
He made it clear that if we repeat the politics of 1990 the nation will never forgiver us. If politicians start this again, we will weaken the Parliament and sovereignty of Pakistan, he added. Khursheed Shah said he apologises to the opposition if we had committed any mistake.
Qamar Zaman Kaira replying to the allegations of Nisar said Mian Nawaz Sharif had returned to Pakistan after Benazir Bhutto deal with a dictator and she did not conduct the NRO secretly with Musharraf. Another PML-N stalwart Khawaja Muhammad Asif was of the view that President Asif Ali Zardari did not trust his party members. Whenever he had meetings with PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif for restoration of judiciary, formation of government and impeachment of Musharraf, he alone met the PML-N Quaid and Mian Shahbaz Sharif in Raiwind and Bhurban. Once, he (Zardari) was accompanied by Jahangir Badr but he left him outside in spite of insistence to call him for participation. When asked as to why you are hesitant in calling Badr, Khawaja said that I have no word to expose the answer given by the President.
Khawaja Asif said I represented my party in all such meetings but won't say anything about what the President uttered in those meetings about his colleagues. There is nothing except shame for the PPP members if I disclose the minutes of the meetings, Khawaja said.
Khawaja said neither the government delivered well nor did it respect the judiciary. If they delivered well, they would not need new NRO today, he maintained. Owais Leghari was of the view that the leaders of both the main parties have spent more than three hours in repeating petty differences, but did not take up people's problems seriously. This is the state of democracy in my country!