Debates in parliaments, any parliament, are always interesting. There are arguments, counter-arguments, heated exchanges and, sometimes, fights. The parliaments do offer a lot of attention-grabbing things than just function as the lawmaking institutions of the countries. So when extraordinary things can happen in European parliaments, why can’t they in parliaments of South Asia? And if they can in this part of the world, can Pakistan be not a part of the club?
The Parliament of Pakistan. AnonHq
A video going viral on the internet has particularly intrigued the attention of the people on social media. But before we come to the ‘piece’ which has got them glued like a detective to a case, we need to talk a bit about the video itself.
The video from 2014 shows the Sindh Provincial Assembly of Pakistan in session.
The Express Tribune
A lady member of the assembly raises her concern about Cyclone Nilofar, which would hit the shores of the country later. The Speaker, Agha Siraj Khan Durrani, then goes on to make a mockery of her concern.
People at Karachi beach watching high tide following Cyclone Nilofer on Oct. 29, 2014. AP Photo/Fareed Khan
You can watch the video here:
But did you notice the object which grabbed people’s attention? No? Here, this screenshot from the early part of the video will help:
Saw that? Yes, that’s a mace! But what is a mace doing on the desk of the Speaker? This is what social media is asking:
Hilarious responses kept pouring in.
But while everyone was having a field day laughing, one user asked this obvious question:
The answer is that the mace is indeed on the desk of the Speaker. Ceremonial maces are kept on the desks of Speakers of any assembly in almost every democratic nation, especially in United Kingdom, its past or present colonies and Commonwealth realms.
It symbolizes that the session is in progress. The mace can also be an ornamented staff of metal or wood. Though ceremonial maces have been derived from the weapon itself, they don’t look like the bulged piece of staff used to fight wars in ancient and medieval times.