ISLAMABAD, April 13: Jailed MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), who was brought to the National Assembly on Thursday on orders of Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain, has demanded issuance of production orders of his party’s acting chief Makhdoom Javed Hashim, who is serving a 23-year term in Kot Lakhpat Jail.

The speaker had earlier refused to issue production orders of Mr Hashmi.

Talking to journalists at Parliament House, Mr Rafiq said the next three months were crucial for the country’s politics as former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto were expected to meet and approve a ‘charter of democracy’. He said soon all the opposition parties would form a united front to launch a forceful campaign against President Pervez Musharraf.

Mr Rafiq said the government was treading a dangerous path of pitching the opposition against the treasury, which would be harmful for the country.

He said the opposition leadership should be ready for facing hardships of jail for the cause of democracy.

He praised the speaker for issuing orders for his production for the second time and said it was high time for issuance of similar orders for Mr Hashmi.