ISLAMABAD: The opposition and the deputy speaker buried the hatchet on Wednesday after Murtaza Javed Abbasi – in a highly symbolic gesture – came down to the house floor after doffing his robes to try and win over protesting PPP and PTI leaders.

The day had begun with Ayaz Sadiq chairing the proceedings. But the opposition benches resounded with calls of ‘Walk Out! Walk Out!’ when the speaker ducked out briefly during question-hour and Mr Abbasi took his place.

As they left the chamber, led by opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah, the deputy speaker called after them, saying, “At least stay for question-hour. This is your hour and your questions are to be answered.” He then instructed ministers Zahid Hamid, Sheikh Aftab and Riaz Hussain Pirzada to go and persuade opposition members to return to the house.

MQM stays away from PPP-led walkouts

The three ministers were not gone long and returned alone. Taking the floor, the parliamentary affairs minister told the speaker that the protesting parties had reservations against him, adding that he should be the ‘bigger man’ and come with them to try and win over the opposition.

This was a tense moment, and the deputy speaker could have made this a matter of ego if he wanted to. After all, the speaker is not bound to be magnanimous since he is supposed to be impartial and above the treasury-opposition bickering.

However, the whole house breathed a collective sigh of relief when Mr Abbasi readily accepted the offer and sent word to the speaker that he should return to the house. A few minutes later, Ayaz Sadiq returned to presiding duties and Mr Abbasi left the chamber.

Within minutes, he had doffed his robes and re-entered the house to applause from the treasury benches. He made a bee-line for the opposition galleries, accompanied by the three cabinet members who he had earlier sent to try and bring the opposition back.

The house waited with bated breath as question-hour trundled on, but they did not have to wait long: the deputy speaker and leader of the opposition — who had figuratively been at each other’s throats over the past two sessions — emerged from the galleries hand-in-hand, the rest of the opposition in tow.

Both Sheikh Aftab and Mr Abbasi looked triumphant; they had succeeded in bringing the obstinate opposition back to the house where others had failed for two days.

MQM aloofness

Since tensions began between the deputy speaker and opposition parties, the MQM had not joined the latter when it walked out in protest.

On Tuesday, the party capitalised on the PM’s presence, introducing two bills and two amendments to the rules while the rest of the opposition was away. Both amendments were passed with considerable help from the treasury benches when the PM himself stood up in his seat to vote on them, while the bills were referred to standing committees.

Talking to Dawn, a legislator who did not wish to be named complained that these walkouts interfered with house business and that pointing out quorum — especially on private members’ day or during a session requisitioned by the opposition — was ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2016