ISLAMABAD, June 17: The PML-N chief and the former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, has criticized the decision of the Punjab Assembly speaker for suspending the membership of nine opposition MPAs, including deputy opposition leader Rana Sanaullah.

In a statement issued from Jeddah and released by the party’s Central Secretariat here on Friday, the PML-N chief said Rana Sanaullah and his companions were protesting over the decision of the chief minister to give a blank cheque to a “dictator” for finalizing the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

Mr Sharif said the suspension of the members would be written in golden words in the parliamentary history as these MPAs were struggling for the restoration of democracy and constitution. He paid rich tributes to the suspended members for their efforts and struggle for the cause of democracy.

Mr Sharif also criticized the decision of giving powers to Gen Musharraf for finalizing the NFC Award. He said giving the powers of finalizing the NFC Award to a “government employee” showed that an individual having vested interests could not defend the rights of people.

The PML-N chief said the nation required people like Rana Sanaullah for carrying out the struggle for the protection of people’s rights. He said Rana Sanaullah had not named any person during his protest in the assembly and only used the word ‘Lota’ (turncoat) symbollically.

The PML-N chief said such acts on the part of the government proved that the rulers had become weak. He predicted that soon there would be rule of law in the country and dark period of dictatorship would be over.

DR QADEER KHAN: PML-N Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and information secretary Siddiqul Farooque have expressed their concern over the reports that Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s health condition was not good.