ISLAMABAD May 5: National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain on Friday defended President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s meetings with lawmakers in his chamber in Parliament House and said that the president was constitutionally part of parliament and there was nothing wrong in his sitting in the chamber.

He was commenting on remarks made by PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

The speaker said that any member of the ruling party could meet the president during the session of the lower house.

Chaudhry Nisar said: “It appears from newspaper reports that there is no law and order in the country because the constitution is not adhered to in letter and spirit … So much so that the president is sitting on top of parliament and is asked by Manzoor Wattoo, a leader of the ruling PML, to summon the party’s CWC at the earliest.”

Begum Ishrat Ashraf wanted to challenge the speaker’s observation but was not allowed to do so.

The reported denial of entry to women councillors to a local council meeting in upper Dir also came up for discussion through a call-attention notice moved by Sher Bahadur Khan of the PML.

Law Minister Wasi Zafar said that the local government was a provincial subject and the provincial authorities should ensure that local council members performed their duties without fear.

He, however, suggested that the federal government should demand an explanation about the incident.