November 11, 2002	Monday	Ramazan 5, 1423

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RAWALPINDI, Nov 10: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has demanded early sessions of the National and provincial assemblies to choose speakers and leaders of the houses.

According to a press release, a spokesman for the MMA said there was no justification for delaying the political process after the completion of general elections.

It clearly shows that the military regime has been trying to bring a government of its own choice, he added.

The MMA spokesman said the military rulers should not be a party in the process of formation of government.

Once the electoral process is over, it is of utmost importance that all decisions are taken inside the parliament, he added.

He said the government should immediately fix the date for assembly sessions and issue letters along with agenda for the first session to the elected members of National and provincial assemblies.

About the delay, the spokesman said the king’s party did not had the requisite number of members to form the government.

The military rulers have been giving more time to the PML-Q to enable the party to get some more lotas on its side to form the government, he added.

“Choosing the speakers and leaders of the houses is not the government’s headache, its duty is to convene the sessions.”

Regarding MMA coalition with any alliance for formation of government, the spokesman said the religious parties were ready to work with the PML-Q only if their conditions were accepted.

“We have an agenda to fulfil. We have made promises with the people and we cannot let them down by becoming only the yes-men of the king’s party,” the spokesman said.

If the PML-Q want our support, it will have to accept our demands or otherwise we are ready to sit in the opposition, he added.

He warned that such unwarranted delay in convening the session would worsen the situation and further hurt the confidence of the people.