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| 25 January 2004 | Sunday | 02 Zilhaj 1424 |
Raza's appointment as opposition leader urged
ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: The newly-formed Democratic Alliance has asked Senate chairman Mohammedmian Soomro to appoint Mian Raza Rabbani as opposition leader in the house as, according to the alliance, he enjoys support of a majority of members.
The demand was made by the Democratic Alliance in a letter submitted by ARD parliamentary secretary Izhar Amrohvi to the Senate secretariat on Saturday. The letter carries signatures of 22 members.
Talking to Dawn, Mr Amrohvi said that under rules it is not required by members to give anything in writing about the nomination of opposition leader. However, he pointed out, the demand had been submitted only to remind the chairman of his constitutional duty.
Those who signed the letter are Mr Rabbani, leader of PPP's parliamentary party; Dr Safdar Ali Abbasi, Dr Abdullah, Abdul Latif Ansari, Mohammed Enver Baig, Farooq Hamid Naik, Rukhsana Zuberi, Syed Sajjad Hussain Bukhari, Sardar Mohammad Latif Khosa, Dr Mohammad Akbar Khwaja, Farhatullah Khan Babar, PML-N's Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Saadia Abbasi, Sajid Mir, Sardar Mehtab Ahmed, PkMAP's Nawab Mohammad Ayaz Khan Jogezai and Raza Mohammad Raza, ANP's Asfandyar Wali and Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, Amanullah Kunrani of the Jamhoori Watan Party, Mohammad Aslam Buledi of the Balochistan National Movement and Sanaullah Baloch of the Balochistan National Party.
Criticizing a statement of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leader Liaquat Baloch that MMA members should be appointed opposition leaders in both houses of parliament as the alliance was the largest parliamentary group, Mr Amrohvi said there was no mention of the word "parliamentary group" in rules.
He ridiculed a claim by Mr Baloch that Maulana Fazlur Rehman should be appointed opposition leader in the National Assembly as he had contested the election for prime minister against Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. Mr Amrohvi said Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani had contested the election for the same office against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1973, but Khan Abdul Wali Khan of the Awami National Party was made the opposition leader at that time.
He said even after disqualification of Mr Wali Khan by the Supreme Court, Maulana Mufti Mahmood became the opposition leader and not Mr Noorani.
He asked Mr Baloch to follow traditions of the past leaders of religio-political parties. He remarked that after accepting the Legal Framework Order as part of the constitution, it was not justifiable for the MMA leaders to talk about rules, laws and constitution.
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