SUKKUR: ‘National consensus govt must after polls’
Dawn Report
SUKKUR, Oct 3: The chief of the Millat Party, Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, warned on Wednesday against anarchy saying it was imperative to have a government of national consensus after the October polls.
Speaking at a press conference here, a central leader of the National Alliance, said that any confrontation may endanger the country’s integrity.
Calling for a stable democratic government, Leghari said that the new assembly should act responsibly.
Favouring the restoration of the constitutional provision of Article 52(B), which could be used to dismiss the National Assembly and the cabinet, he said it was in the greater national interest and would act as a safety valve to keep the army out of the power corridors.
However, he said that its powers should be exercised with caution and in conjunction with a judicial review and added that the president should respect the court’s verdict in this regard.
He welcomed President Gen Musharraf’s decision to establish democratic order within three years of taking over power.
Leghari said that he did not favour the Article 52(B) during his tenure as the president, adding that he had asked both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to do away with the constitutional provision.
He said that he now aspired the office of the prime minister.
Referring to the presidential powers and the formation of the National Security Council, he said that the coming assembly should enact new law to send the finance bill to the Senate after the approval of the National Assembly.
He said that the finance bill carried fiscal matters and its passage from the National Assembly alone did not fulfil the needs of justice as it deprived the smaller provinces of their due rights.
Our Dadu Correspondent adds: Former president Farooq Leghari defended his decision to sack the Benazir government, saying that the country was at the verge of bankruptcy when he had dismissed the Benazir government.
He added that 40 million dollar to 50 million dollars were being sent abroad on a daily basis.
Speaking to the participants of a public gathering at the Public Park in Johi, he said that the total foreign exchange reserves at that time amounted to $625 million. He said any delay would have plunged the country into an economic chaos.
He also accused Nawaz Sharif of damaging the democracy, saying that he had become “civil dictator.” He also accused Nawaz Sharif of interfering in the affairs of the judiciary and the army.
Describing the water issue as affecting the entire nation, he said that water shortage was greatly affecting Sindh and there was an urgent need to build smaller dams. He added that the nation should be taken into confidence regarding the construction of major dams.
He expressed the hope that elections would be held on time, saying that the tense border situation should not affect the election schedule, adding that the government’s credibility was at stake.
He avoided answering a query regarding the legitimacy of the presidential referendum, and only said that there was a need for national cohesion.
