Dasti's morality outburst

What independent MNA Jamshed Dasti did in the National Assembly on Thursday was absolutely uncalled for. He got up on a point of order to allege that Parliament Lodges had become dens of immoral activities. Girls, he said, are brought in and mujras (dances by ladies of the night) held, going on to make the incredible claim that liquor worth Rs 40-50 million was purchased. And that smell of liquor and charas (hashish) hung all over the place. He claimed to have visual evidence of the activities, although he did not explain where he got the figure for liquor price or the duration of use. For, Rs 40-50 million stuff to be consumed would mean almost every MNA is a regular drinker which is hard to believe. The legislator has been demanding that all members should undergo tests for liquor use detection, which is pointless considering that liquor does not stay in the system for so long.

In any case, if he had a genuine issue Dasti should have adopted the proper procedure to complain rather than to make sensational declarations. As Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq rightly observed, he could have informed him in the Speaker's chamber producing the evidence; there was no need to make scandalous allegations inside the House. The reason why he went for the dramatics could be a craving for media attention, which he has managed to get aplenty. Notably, the MNA, who is yet to clear his name for using fake graduation degree in the 2008 national elections, has remained out of the limelight since winning his seat as an independent candidate in last year's election. The one time he got some notice was last September when he moved a bill seeking two-year extension in the retirement age of the former Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, against whom he had earlier been making disparaging remarks.

That though is not to say the allegations are totally baseless and that all parliamentarians are angels. But that he should have first brought the issue to the Speaker's notice. People can do whatever they like within the privacy of their homes, but Parliament lodges certainly are not a place for 'mujra' performances. There are CCTV cameras in place. A month-long footage of the goings-on is available, which the Speaker can use to investigate the matter. Whatever Dasti's motive, he has provided an opportunity to the rightwing parties to demand curbs on normal entertainment. Picking up on his 'immorality' theme during Thursday's parliamentary proceedings, a JI member lashed out at TV channels for casting bad influence on the younger generation's sense of morality by airing foreign dramas and films while PTI's Ali Mohammad Khan questioned the showing of Indian films in cinemas, demanding punishment for whosoever permitted the 'immoral' activity. The Speaker is expected to deal with the issue in a sensible manner, disallowing such self-styled moralists any excuse to try and infringe social and cultural freedoms.