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| September 19, 2006 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 25, 1427 |
Govt’s intentions exposed: MMA
ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has said the abrupt prorogation of the National Assembly has exposed the real intentions of the government which is using the Protection of Women Rights Bill as a tool to divide the combined opposition and giving the US a false impression about its sincerity to the cause of women rights.
Speaking to newsmen at the Parliament House here on Monday, MMA’s deputy parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said the house was prorogued as the government was unable to table the women rights bill on the lines of the draft handed over to President Musharraf for onwards presentation to the US president. He said the lengthy assembly session also proved that the government wanted to ward off any disturbances in the wake of Akbar Bugti’s killing and Waziristan accord.
About talks with PML President Chaudhry Shujaat on the bill, the MMA leader said the government-appointed ulema panel not only suggested the removal of major anomalies in the bill but also proposed six additional points so as to bring in a real law providing protection to women’s rights.
“If it is really true that the Hudood amendment bill is on the agenda of Bush-Musharraf meeting, then we are justified in questioning the sovereignty of Pakistan’s parliament,” Mr Ahmed said.
“Government’s retreat on the bill has vindicated our stand that the bill is meant to please foreign elements rather than provide protection to women in the country,” he said.
MMA Deputy Secretary General Liaqat Baloch said that by denying MMA participation in the Quetta rally, the ARD had violated the decisions taken at the Islamabad APC.
However, despite government’s ill tactics, the opposition was still unanimous on the issues of ending army’s role in politics, appointment of an independent election commission and restoration of constitution as on October 12, 1999, he said.
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