The floor of the august House of the Punjab Assembly presented a scene where worthy public representatives freely used fists and kicks against their opponents, hurling shoes at them, uttering unparlaimentary expressions, exchanging barbs and creating such a commotion that the Speaker felt unable to control it and had no other option but to adjourn the proceedings. In the shouting match and the nasty brawls that ensued, women did not stand aloof and were seen slapping at political rivals and tearing their clothes. It must be admitted that in a situation in which even women are not spared and are subjected to morally questionable abuses, they could, more often than not, be expected to lose patience and resort to even physical violence.

The rowdy behaviour was witnessed on two consecutive days, Wednesday and Thursday. It all began on Wednesday when some Opposition members blamed the government for unleashing thugs and ruffians, during anti-loadshedding demonstrations, to attack the houses of Ahmed Yar Heraj in Mianwali and other opposition politicians. Soon the House started to resound with slogans from either side. Among those suspended from attending the session, Ms Seemal Kamal fainted on the stairs of the Assembly premises when the guards did not let her in; she could no longer bear the summer heat of the longest day of the year and was shifted to a hospital to recover.
Beyond doubt, it is a demeaning situation not just for the parliamentarians who stooped to such low behaviour, but for the nation as a whole as well which elects them. It is a blot on the fair name of democracy that, in essence, calls for serious debate of issues of national concern with a view to addressing them in a meaningful manner and hardly suggests that such a democracy is taking root in Pakistan. Pitiably somehow, a growing number of Pakistani parliamentarians are joining the ranks of those who are prone to an angry display of emotions, setting aside the need to maintain the decorum of the House. It falls on the leadership, irrespective of party, to make sure that the sanctity of the House is not violated under any circumstances, and take those to task who continue with their undisciplined conduct.