March 16, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1429

PESHAWAR, March 15: The Awami National Party, the major coalition partner in the future set up in the province, has asked the caretaker government to summon the maiden session of newly elected provincial assembly forthwith.

This was demanded by ANP parliamentary leader in the House, Bashir Ahmed Bilour, who held a meeting with Justice (retired) Mohammad Ajmal Mian, caretaker minister for law and parliamentary affairs at latter’s office on Saturday.

Mr Bilour stressed the need for convening the session immediately. He said that unnecessary delay in summoning the session was creating uncertainty in the province.

He said it would unconstitutional to force the MPAs-elect to take oath under provisional constitution order (PCO), because the previous assembly (2002) had taken oath under the 1973 Constitution.

After the removal of superior court judges and imposition of emergency on Nov 3, 2006, president had assumed most of the powers of provincial governors. Now president was competent to summon the session of national and four provincial assembles under the PCO.

Mr Bilour made it clear that such steps were quite contrary to the provincial autonomy and hence the new elected government reserved the right to review it accordingly in larger national interests.