KARACHI, Aug 10: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) has expressed its concern and apprehension over the prevailing constitutional crisis in the country which, it said, had paralyzed democratic institutions.
In a resolution, adopted at the concluding session of a two-day meeting of the Central Executive Committee here on Sunday, the PTI slammed rising cost of utilities, particularly gas and electricity, which had made lives of ordinary people miserable.
The meeting was presided over by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The resolution pointed out that the rising cost of utilities had been causing immense hardship to under-privileged class whose minimum wage remained unchanged.
Despite claims of macro-economic stability and billions of dollars of reserves, productive economic activity remains stagnant with a little direct investment while unemployment is touching record high, according to the resolution.
It blamed LFO stalemate on President Musharraf’s insistence on clinging to power unconstitutionally and termed it ‘the main stumbling block’ in the process.
The party reiterated its demand for a constitutionally elected president to complete the formation of the parliament as no single person could be allowed to hold nation’s future hostage by refusing to transfer powers to democratic institutions.
The resolution called on the joint opposition to live up to the high expectations of the masses by struggling unitedly for full restoration of the 1973 Constitution, supremacy of parliament and an independent judiciary.
Earlier, speaking at the concluding session, Imran Khan advised all opposition parties and alliances, including the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), to develop a consensus among themselves and evolve a common strategy with regard to the LFO and the issue of the President’s uniform.
“Any sign of disunity in the ranks of opposition would provide a chance to the government to exploit the situation and thus unleash a propaganda against them,” he warned.
Referring to the excessive powers vested in the office of the President despite existence of the parliamentary system, he said that Gen Musharraf’s policies were based on weakening vital institutions while strengthening his rule. This policy, he added, would spell disaster for the future democratic system in the country.
“Actions of President Musharraf clearly belie his earlier promises as he failed to honour his commitment to transfer all executive powers to to prime minister and elected representatives.”
Later, responding to newsmen’s queries about LFO, Imran Khan said that he strongly believed that it could never become part of the Constitution unless ratified by the parliament.
About PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s conviction by a Swiss Court for her alleged involvement in money-laundering and embezzlement, he said that she had only one option open to her viz-a-viz appeal against the verdict.
Replying to a question about the Indian delegation’s visit to Pakistan, he said it was a good and positive sign and that it was one of the mode to reduce tension between the two countries.
“Enhanced people-to-people contacts between the two sides would help normalize bilateral ties which would consequently result in lessened defence allocations and more funding in social sectors,” he added.
Replying to another question about the construction of Kalabagh Dam, the PTI chief said he believed that on any development project, there should be a consensus among people of all the four provinces to avoid any harm to the provincial harmony.
MMA: The central leader of Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal (MMA), Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, has urged the government to remove all taxes on utility bills for domestic consumers.
He said this while talking to a delegation of small traders association here on Sunday. The MMA leader said that rise in utility rates had severely affected the budget of a common man.
He said all taxes on utility bills should be removed to reduce burden on domestic consumers.
Senator Ghafoor suggested the government to defer privatization of all profit-making public sector organizations and present their accounts before the National Assembly and Senate.—PPI/APP
