March 30, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 21, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 29: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar on Saturday called for a complete provincial autonomy to achieve the objective of streng-thening the federal democratic system in the country.

He urged the coalition government to pass the 18th amendment bill submitted by his party for the purpose.

“The provincial autonomy is necessary for socio-economic development of the country,” he said in his speech in the National Assembly.

“Provincial autonomy is indispensable for solidarity of the country,” he said, adding that the MQM would extend full support to the prime minister and his government for socio-economic development of the country.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the JUI-F said that a democratically elected parliament had come into being and there was no place for the continuation of an external agenda of war on terror.

“No doubt terrorism is a crime, but its parameters need to be redefined.”

He said that country’s religious institutions were ready to adapt to modern syllabus at their own, but they will never allow anyone to impose foreign agenda on them.

Ayaz Amir of the PML-N said the ongoing war on terror was not “our war”. “If we accept this then there will be no difference between our government and the former Musharraf-led government.”

He said the issue needed to be discussed in parliament to formulate a policy which was in the nation’s interest.

Faisal Saleh Hayat of the PML-Q suggested to the prime minister that instead of demanding a UN probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, he should trust agencies under his own control to reopen the investigation.