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| 18 January 2004 | Sunday | 25 Ziqa'ad 1424 |
PM criticizes opposition's behaviour
ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali expressed displeasure over the role of opposition in the joint session of parliament on Saturday, and said it adopted an unparliamentary approach.
"It does not suit the opposition to adopt such an approach during the address of the president in whom parliament had reposed confidence with majority vote," the prime minister said while talking to reporters in his chamber after the address of President Gen Pervez Musharraf to the joint parliamentary sitting.
"What they (opposition) did was contrary to the parliamentary norms," he said. "The opposition should have upheld the sanctity of parliament."
He said it was unfortunate that even in the past the opposition often adopted a negative approach.
Replying to a question regarding a walkout staged by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal during the presidential address, he said he had no background knowledge of their walkout.
About the opposition charge regarding diverting the PIA flight, he said it was only an allegation as whenever the opposition plans remained unfulfilled they started hurling baseless allegations.
The prime minister said the flight was carrying some of the members from treasury benches as well.
When his attention was drawn towards the four major challenges the president said were confronting the nation, Mr Jamali said the government would pay utmost attention to the areas pointed out by the president in his address.
"Our every effort would be for the betterment of the country and uplift of masses," he said.
The president, Mr Jamali said, had once again clearly stated that the assembly would complete its tenure and there would be no martial law, and his assertion "is aboveboard."
Asked to comment on the dialogue between India and Pakistan, the prime minister hoped the process would start at the level of secretaries.
Replying to a question, he said stringent measures had been taken to check adulteration in medicines and edible items. A number of teams across the country had been constituted to conduct raids and check the menace effectively, he added.-APP
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