May 18, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 19, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, May 17: Leaders of the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) on Wednesday criticised the statement of Gen Pervez Musharraf who had said that the Charter of Democracy was of no importance and a move by the two former prime ministers to gain power.

In their statements, PPP Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman, Punjab chapter’s information secretary Farzana Raja and secretary finance Senator Babar Awan said Gen Musharraf’s comment on the charter had endorsed its importance.

Sherry Rehman and Babar Awan, in their joint statement, said it showed that how concerned Gen Musharraf was of the signing of the charter.

Ms Rehman said a dictator who came to power from the back door unconstitutionally had absolutely no right to govern the nation. Today his policies have raised the graph of price hike to its maximum which shows an absolute failure of the economic policies, she said, adding that on the front of foreign affairs also Pakistan was wandering alone at international level.

She challenged that if he (President Musharraf) wished to assess himself he should come forward and contest a free and fair election without the support of the establishment.

Babar Awan said presiding over the meeting of the ruling party to launch its political campaign was part of pre-poll rigging plan of Gen Musharraf.

Farzana Raja criticised Gen Pervez Musharraf for becoming the “godfather” of the Pakistan Muslim League, and said the Charter of Democracy was bound to end dictatorship in the country.

Reacting to Gen Musharraf’s statement in which he asked the cabinet members to play down the importance of the charter, the PPP leader said: “The world will know how significant and decisive the anti-dictatorship drive will be.”

She said Gen Musharraf could have asked the cabinet members to improve their performance, attend the parliament sessions and serve the nation instead of wasting their time in undue criticism of the opposition alliance.

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