December 6, 2003	Saturday	Shawwal 11, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 5: Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali gave a strong hint on Friday that his government could bring a package to parliament within the current Islamic month of Shawwal to settle the LFO controversy in agreement with one of the two major opposition alliances.

In a speech on the floor of the upper house after opposition parties walked out at the start of the session, he rejected an opposition charge that President Pervez Musharraf was obstructing the democratic process through the LFO.

His brief speech came shortly after he told reporters at the parliament house that the government planned to call a National Assembly session where a constitutional amendment bill to settle the LFO row could be brought jointly with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.

The prime minister did not specify the dates when it could happen, but said the month of Shawwal, which began on November 26 — the first day of Eidul Fitr festival — would be good for the future of the present parliament.

“Now that everybody has eaten sweet vermicelli (on Eid)... Shawwal will be a month not of parliament’s Zawal (downfall) but Insha-Allah of good haal (condition),” the prime minister said poetically.

Before storming out of the Senate, the senators belonging to the ARD, MMA and their smaller allies engaged in their usual desk-thumping and slogan-chanting against the LFO and President Musharraf for about five minutes after a blistering anti-Musharraf tirade by MMA’s Prof Ghafoor Ahmed.

The prime minister said the MMA senator seemed to be talking without a mandate from his alliance’s leadership, which had reportedly been in contact with the ruling alliance despite threatening to launch a public agitation campaign if the government did not bring a constitutional amendment bill, or package on the LFO, to parliament by December 17.

“He would not have talked like this if he had been aware of what is being discussed and what package is to come,” Mr Jamali said about Prof Ghafoor, who held President Musharraf as mainly responsible for the present political and constitutional crisis.

Though other leaders from both the ruling alliance, led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, and the MMA have often talked about the possibility of an agreed package being brought to parliament, it was the first time the prime minister indicated a period when it could happen.

LFO STATUS: However, there was no indication how the two sides would reconcile their opposite views on the status of the LFO, which the government says has already become part of the Constitution — a view rejected by all opposition parties.

While the main opposition grouping of the 15-party Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) has boycotted LFO parleys, the MMA wants the government to bring a constitutional amendment bill incorporating agreed points of the LFO for incorporation in the Constitution. But the government says both the ruling coalition and the MMA bring a bill to amend the LFO.

“If parliament gets bad name today, the responsibility is solely on Gen Pervez Musharraf who does not allow parliament to work,” MMA Senator Ghafoor Ahmad said. “One individual is not ready to allow constitutional rule,” he said and accused the president of endangering national solidarity and causing a sense of deprivation in the provinces.

“All responsibility cannot be placed on the opposition,” he said and added: “Landmines have been laid in our path in the shape of the LFO.”

As soon as Prof Ghafoor finished his speech other opposition senators stood in their seats and started thumping their desks and chanting “No LFO no”, “Go Musharraf go” and other slogans before marching out of the house.

“We had thought... the opposition would demonstrate seriousness,” Prime Minister Jamali said as he took the floor after several ruling coalition senators lambasted the opposition for what they saw as an irresponsible attitude.

“Time has come that we should be serious (about things),” the prime minister said. “This is not the way.... If you can’t act like a parliamentarian, at least behave like a parliamentarian.”

He said he felt pained to see all this and added: “There is an element that does not want an understanding between the government and the opposition.”

The prime minister said if the president had wished not to let parliament work, he would not have held elections to create the legislature.

“Those who are present (in the house) don’t obstruct (the proceedings). I think those who come and walkout do it.”

While some ruling coalition senators seemed anxious to excel one another in condemning the opposition, former information minister Nisar Ahmad Memon of the PML-Q even proposed a resolution asking opposition senators to resign their seats to make way for others to be elected in their places. But the move was not taken up immediately.

Others who spoke against the opposition protest included National Alliance and Millat Party secretary-general Mohammad Ali Durrani, Babar Khan Ghori of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and Mrs Tanveer Khalid and Shahzad Waseem of the PML-Q.

Awami National Party’s Ilyas Ahmad Bilour did not join the walkout and later got himself included in the Export Development Board by making a personal request to the prime minister.

But the prime minister sidestepped Mr Bilour’s suggestion that Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chief and former cricket captain Imran Khan, who is now a member of the National Assembly, be asked to head the Pakistan Cricket Board after the resignation of Gen Tauqir Zia.

Besides the question-hour, there was not much business on the Senate agenda for the opening day of the session, which, according to a provisional schedule, will last until Dec 26.

On a motion from leader of house Wasim Sajjad, the house passed a resolution to condole the death of a former senator from Islamabad, Mohammad Hayat.

Before Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro adjourned the Senate until 5.30pm on Monday, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz laid before the house the annual report of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, a statement of the commission’s accounts as certified by auditors and a copy of the auditors’ report as required under the Securities and Exchange Commission Act of 1997.