12 October 2004	Tuesday	26 Shaban 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: The People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) MNAs on Monday briefed a three-member visiting Indian journalists and peace activists on the bill moved by the treasury benches in the National Assembly on Gen Pervez Musharraf's uniform.

The PPP leaders briefed renowned journalist and peace activist Kuldip Nayar, former Indian foreign secretary Salman Haider and editor of daily Asian Age Seema Mustafa during an informal chat at the cafeteria of the Parliament House during the National Assembly session.

Other PPP team led by MNA Aitzaz Ahsan included Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed and Fauzia Wahab. Responding to various queries of the Indian guests, Aitzaz Ahsan said the government had introduced the bill in total violation of the Constitution. He said the PPP had submitted a dissenting note on the bill during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights.

He said through the bill the government wanted to enable Gen Musharraf to retain the offices of the president and the chief of the army staff beyond December 31, 2004. He said the bill implied clearly that it had been tabled only for the benefit of Gen Pervez Musharraf.

He said the government could bring a bill enabling the president to hold the office of the army chief but it could not allow the army chief to keep the office of the president without bringing a constitutional amendment for which it required a two- third majority.

He said Article 244 prescribed an oath for every member of the armed forces that he would "uphold" the constitution and "shall not engage in any political activities whatsoever."

Mr Ahsan said the office of the president was a political office and, therefore, the chief of the army staff, could not become the president. "An elected president can send messages to the parliament regarding legislations on certain issues, but how can an army chief send messages to the parliament," he added. Moreover, he said, according to the constitution such acts amounted to treason.

At this point, Chaudhry Manzoor said the army chief was not only sending messages and patronizing the ruling party, but also issuing orders to summon and prorogue the National Assembly and Senate sessions.

When the Indian guests asked about the role of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on the issue, Mr Ahsan said interestingly the MMA, which had supported the government in the 17th Amendment Bill, had also signed the dissenting note, submitted by the PPP.

"By signing the dissenting note, the MMA has actually departed from its earlier stand, while the ARD is still consistent," Mr Ahsan said. He said MMA member of National Assembly Advocate Mohammad Usman, had signed the dissenting note on the bill.

He said actually the MMA meant "Mullah-Military Alliance" and it was still there. The Indian team is visiting on the invitation of the Foundation for Research and International Environment National Development and Security (Friends) to attend a seminar.