March 19, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1429

KARACHI, March 18: Terming the delay in the calling of the newly elected Sindh Assembly’s inaugural session “unconstitutional,” leader of the Pakistan People’s Party’s parliamentary party in the provincial assembly Pir Mazharul Haq demanded that the chief minister forward the requisite summary forthwith so that the governor could do the needful.

He was speaking at a press conference held at the residence of the party’s designated provincial assembly speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro after a meeting of MPAs here on Tuesday.

“This is the fourth time we are asking the governor and the caretaker chief minister to call the session. Apparently, they are waiting for a date from the president. But as per the Constitution’s Article 109, the governor can call the provincial assembly session,” said Pir Mazharul Haq.

“The law department has sent the summary required for calling the session to the caretaker chief minister. But no action has been taken. This is an unconstitutional move. We request the president to give a date for the session immediately as it is the government’s duty. But that will happen only once the chief minister sends the summary to the governor. This cat-and-mouse game must end,” he added.

Pir Mazhar said that 90 of the party’s 92 MPAs attended the meeting – two members were indisposed – along with two Awami National Party (ANP) MPAs, including the party’s Sindh president Shahi Syed. Terming it a display of unity, he went on to say that “we have shown our full strength. Now it is the Sindh government’s constitutional duty to call the session to do away with the public’s apprehensions.”

He said that since there was no response from the other (government’s) side, the situation was incredibly vexing for the party. “It is against the spirit of democracy and the spirit of Article 109,” added the Pir.

He said that MPAs had also presented their suggestions to the party’s nominee for the chief minister’s slot, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who was also present, and added that the meetings of the parliamentary party would continue from the 22nd following a break for Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH).

‘False cases’

Pir Mazhar also informed the press conference that a three-member committee consisting of himself, Ayaz Soomro and Rafiq Engineer had been formed, which would start work on a “war footing” from Wednesday to take up the “false cases” lodged against PPP candidates, workers and their families following Benazir Bhutto’s assassination on Dec 27, 2007.

He said the MPAs had once again reposed their confidence in the leadership of party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. When asked by reporters after the press conference why the party felt the need to reiterate its confidence in Mr Zardari time and again, Pir Mazhar said it was required as “the media keep highlighting it,” probably referring to the fervent media speculation about a possible split in the party ranks, especially keeping in mind the Makhdoom Amin Fahim imbroglio.

Pir Mazhar also denounced a report in a section of the press which suggested he was angry with former PPP MNA Manzoor Wassan, who sat on the dais along with the party brass.

“We laughed it off. It is a baseless report. We are good friends. We’ve spent two years in jail together,” he observed.

He also offered an “unconditional apology” when media-men protested at having to stand outside the venue for two hours as the meeting went over time.

Earlier, Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman – Amin Fahim’s son – was cornered by reporters as he left the meeting early. He brushed aside rumours suggesting Mr Fahim was in cahoots with the establishment saying “this is a charge levelled against every party. The people will decide which is an awami party.”

He also condemned the anti-Amin Fahim posters that were hung outside the National Assembly in Islamabad on Monday, though when Pir Mazhar was later asked if the party had passed any resolution condemning the posters during the meeting, he seemed noncommittal and simply said he condemned the act and wanted to know who was responsible for it.