ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: The opposition in the National Assembly on Monday severely criticised what it termed the rule of an extra-constitutional government, perpetuation of army’s role in politics, bypassing parliament in all policies and failure to give the people of the country relief from their economic woes.
Condemning the killing of former chief minister of Balochistan Nawab Akbar Bugti, the opposition lawmakers pointed to the new map of the Muslim world released by an American think-tank in which a new alignment of Balochistan was shown, and warned that the reaction would be fierce which could lead even to disintegration of the country.
The opposition made good use of over five hours of the debate on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Leader of the Opposition Maulana Fazlur Rahman said the extra-constitutional government which had been established by creating an artificial majority through arm twisting tactics with the help of intelligence agencies and army generals had failed to give good governance.
The country was practically being run under presidential system with the smaller provinces denied their constitutional rights and GHQ remaining the epicentre of all powers, he asserted.
He said Nawab Bugti had been killed by air force bombing without caring about the worst public reaction. He criticised the privatisation policy.
MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmed said lines had been drawn between those who loved Islam and those who championed secularism in its worst form.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim of the PPP said NAB was working to protect the corrupt sitting in the government and to victimise whoever refused to bow to the regime’s dictates.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of the PML-N challenged Gen Musharraf to relinquish his army chief’s post and then see how the graph of his artificial popularity dropped.
Imran Khan of the Tehrik-i-Insaf said if the US Pentagon could be constructed on 30 acres, how come our GHQ was being constructed on 2,500 acres at a cost of over Rs500 billion.
PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan held Mr Aziz responsible for the military operation in Balochistan, saying that only he could advise the armed forces for such an action under Article 48, Clause 21, of the constitution.
Mehmud Khan Achakzai of the PMAP suggested that a law should be enacted to bar from taking part in politics for 20 years the politicians who switched their party loyalties.
