The AFC is bemused at the PPP's antics regarding the appointment of Speaker. They have to understand that the electorate has spoken and none of the parties should treat their mandates lightly, or believe that it can be bargained with, or compromised. The PPP has to also understand that there is a new Order and that there has been a change. They have to get used to the fact that they don't control everything any longer.
The argument that they are entitled to the speaker's chair based on Commonwealth precedent is a very disingenious argument when one considers that we are operating in a hybrid of the Westminster system where we have an executive president. Under the doctrine of separation of powers it is a nonsense for the PPP to want to control both the executive and the legislature when they only won the executive.
The opposition would be guilty of the greatest abdication of responsibility and betrayal of the people's trust if we gave up the Chairmanship of the Assembly's affairs to the PPP. The opposition parties formally indicated a willingness to work with the PPP government in a national-unity construct and that proposal was rebuffed. It is their insincerity that we're dealing with now. Ralph Ramkarran was a good speaker but the Order has changed and he would be out of place in the present situation.
The argument that they are entitled to the speaker's chair based on Commonwealth precedent is a very disingenious argument when one considers that we are operating in a hybrid of the Westminster system where we have an executive president. Under the doctrine of separation of powers it is a nonsense for the PPP to want to control both the executive and the legislature when they only won the executive.
The opposition would be guilty of the greatest abdication of responsibility and betrayal of the people's trust if we gave up the Chairmanship of the Assembly's affairs to the PPP. The opposition parties formally indicated a willingness to work with the PPP government in a national-unity construct and that proposal was rebuffed. It is their insincerity that we're dealing with now. Ralph Ramkarran was a good speaker but the Order has changed and he would be out of place in the present situation.