Articles of the year 2021

Acknowledgement to Humayun Gauhar.
While at boarding school many of the English ways left a lasting impression. One such memory was November 5th to commemorate Guy Fawkes day. An Englishman who was fed up with the antics of the members of parliament packed the cellars of the House of Commons with enough gunpowder to destroy the building and all the parliamentarians therein.

Fortunately for them the plan was foiled, Guy Fawkes did not escape but his name lives on and November 5th is celebrated every year as Guy Fawkes day by fireworks throughout England.

Shaukat Tarin our Minister of Finance plodded stoically through his budget presentation, while the members of parliament did their best to unsettle the Minister from his speech, many of us witnessed the uncouth and unparliamentarily behavior.

In Pakistan, our parliamentarians indulge in all manner of hooliganism, and we are at a loss to explain this loutish behavior from our lawmakers who are supposed to be an example of good behavior for the rest of the citizenry.

Last week we witnessed two members of parliament in a discussion on television. Events spun out of control and a lady MNA slapped her opponent so hard he spun about almost falling. The slap resounded through the TV channels, and the message spread to a horrified nation that the corruption scandal and now this behavior cannot continue. So the hunt is on for a Pakistani Gut Fawkes. We did have many suicide bombers but unfortunately they have blown themselves away as an act of faith.

Our need is not for the higher faith, but a more mundane political gambit. It would also be a spectacular fireworks display. The memory would be more lasting. O Parliamentarians, beware of the limits of your loutish behavior and the limits of public patience. The limits of Nawaz being trolled through the streets of London should be a warning. To become a public figure precludes loutish behavior.