03 September 2004	Friday	17 Rajab 1425

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LAHORE, Sept 2: The PML-N MNAs would move a privilege motion against Speaker Chaudhry Amir Husain for his alleged insulting attitude on the day of the election of the prime minister, a party leader said on Thursday.

MNA Khwaja Saad Rafiq, who is provincial secretary-general of the party, said at a news conference that the speaker had set a bad precedent by calling sergeant-at-arms in his chamber to humiliate opposition lawmakers.

Asked about the possibility of a no-trust motion against him, as reported by a section of the press recently, Mr Rafiq said the attitude of the speaker was prompting the opposition to think on these lines. However, he said, a decision on the subject could be taken only by the ARD's parliamentary party.

He was critical of the way Makhdoom Javed Hashmi was kept away from the parliament on the day of the prime minister's election. He said Shaukat Aziz at best could be called a 'selected' prime minister.

He thanked the ARD and the MMA for their cooperation with the PML-N and their willingness to accept Mr Hashmi as their candidate for the office of the prime minister. The process had established that the PML-N could be a bridge between the opposition forces, he said.

Ridiculing the way Mr Aziz had got himself elected as prime minister, the PML-N leader said his party legislators would visit various bars and press clubs and meet with intelligentsia to apprise them of the drama staged in the name of election.

Mr Rafiq said 'corrupt' elements whose files were still lying with the NAB had been inducted in the cabinet, the largest ever in its size. The cabinet, he said, had been selected at the presidency and a number of people the ruling party chief wanted to induct, had been ignored.

Replying to a question, he said his party was thinking of holding an all-party conference, a decision on which would be taken on Raja Zafarul Haq's return from China. Information secretary Zaeem Qadri and Nasir Iqbal Khan were also present at the news conference.

APPOINTED: Shahana Farooqi and Memoona Shaheen have been appointed president and secretary-general, respectively, of the Punjab women's wing of the ruling party. This has been announced by chief minister and provincial PML President Pervaiz Elahi.

Shahana Farooqi replaces Ms Nasim Lodhi, who is a provincial minister. At present, Shahana Farooqi and Memoona Shaheen are provincial secretary-general and Lahore president of the women's wing.

PDP: The Pakistan Democratic Party will invite leaders of various parties to address a special meeting being organized on the first death anniversary of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan on Sept 27. According to a press release issued by party's information secretary Khwaja Izhar, the meeting would be held at Hamdard Centre, Lytton Road.