July 31, 2002	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 20,1423

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CHARSADDA, July 30: The majority of the political parties in a seminar held here on July 30 rejected the government’s proposed constitutional amendment package.

The seminar held at a local school was jointly organized by Mohammadzai Union of Journalists and Press Club Charsadda, and was attended by almost all the district presidents of political parties besides some legal experts, scholars and representatives of NGOs.

The seminar was presided over by Abdul Fatah Jan advocate, president district Bar Association Charsadda.

Sangeen Wali Khan, district president of ANP and Khalid Khan, general secretary in their addresses rejected the constitutional proposals saying that the government had no right to amend the constitution.

Similarly, Mohammad Riaz Khan, district amir of Jamaat Islami, Maulana Gauhar Shah, district amir of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and Maulana Daud Jan Afghani in their speeches said that the government was promoting secular and western agenda and was weakening Islamic forces in the country.

They said that the proposed constitutional package was rejected by the nation because no one person had the authority to amend the constitution.

Mohammad Jan Gigyani, president Shabqadar Bar Association while discussing in details the chequered constitutional history of the country said that the defence of the 1973 constitution was necessary for the integrity of Pakistan.

Mohammad Jasima, student leader of the JTI, however, held politicians responsible for the present political mess in the country and said that if today Pakistan was derailed from democracy, the political leaders would be held responsible for it.

Ahmad Shah Khan advocate, general secretary of District Bar Association Charsadda and a constitutional expert said that the package was merely a proposal which the government had presented for a public debate.

He said that in the past, amendments were made to the constitution without any public debate and defended some of the constitutional proposals in the package.

Said-Rehman, president of Pakistan National Awami Party’s written speech read at the seminar supported the package. Arshad Khan, district president Peoples Party (Sherpao) said that the constitutional package was government’s ploy to divert people’s attention from the real issues. He appealed to all the political parties to unite to save the country from anarchy.

Mian Hamayun Shah, district president of Muslim League (N) Sharif Ullah Khan, district president of PML(Q), Faqir Hussain, district president of Qaumi Jamhoori Party, Ihsan Ullah Surki of Shopkeepers Association, and others also spoke on the occasion.