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KARACHI, Sept 16: Leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro, on Thursday appealed to all MPAs and ministers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Pakistan Muslim League (Functional), not to support any resolution to be presented in Sindh Assembly supporting president's army uniform.
Speaking at a press conference at his chamber in the Sindh Assembly building, he termed the resolution adopted by the Punjab Assembly urging the President Gen Musharraf to remain in army uniform "against the Constitution", and said that the country in the past was divided owing to the 'wrong doings' of a person in uniform.
The other PPP MPAs, including Syed Shah Muhammad Shah, Sassi Palejo, Rafique Engineer, Nasreen Chandio, Dr Karim Khawaja and Humaira Alwani were also present on the occasion.
Condemning the resolution adopted by the Punjab Assembly, Mr Khuhro said, it was a violation of the Constitution, and no provincial assembly had the authority to make amendments in the Constitution.
He said that they had come to know that a similar resolution would be presented and adopted by the Sindh Assembly, demanding the president to remain in the uniform even after Dec 31, 2004, and vowed to strongly resist any such resolution.
"Sindh Assembly took the lead in adopting resolution in favour of Pakistan and Quaid-i-Azam presided over several of its sessions, so we won't allow any resolution in violation of the Constitution and the democracy" he added.
Mr Khuhro said that President Pervez Musharraf himself had promised to the nation that he would put off his uniform by Dec 31, and if he failed to honour his commitment, it would have negative implications for the country.
He warned the MPAs to refrain from supporting any such resolution, saying people of Sindh would not welcome those favouring it. Some people in the government were trying to further divide Pakistan, he alleged.
RESOLUTION REJECTED: Secretary Sindh Assembly Hadi Bux Buriro on Thursday rejected a resolution submitted by the Pakistan People's Party MPA Humaira Alvani against president's uniform, arguing as per rules, no resolution could be tabled in any provincial assembly against the president or governor.
Ms Alvani told newsmen that when she approached the Sindh Assembly Secretariat to submit the resolution, the secretary of the assembly secretariat rejected it, arguing no resolution could be presented against the president or governor.
"I was told by the Secretary of Sindh Assembly, Hadi Bux Buriro that under sub-rule 136 of rule 104 of the rules of procedures, no resolution against the president or governor could be presented in any provincial assembly" she informed the newsmen.
The proposed resolution demanded that the President Pervez Musharraf should either relinquish the office of president of Pakistan or that of the chief of the army staff till Dec 31, 2004.
President in the army uniform was a breach of the Constitution, and he had no authority to convene meetings of the treasury members of the National Assembly, the proposed resolution said, adding that President General Musharraf had pledged to the nation in his televized address to quit one of the offices by Dec 31, 2004. -PPI
