April 11, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 4, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 10: Mian Raza Rabbani, the Leader of the House in the Senate, has accused Attorney-General Malik Qayyum of going beyond his constitutional role by meeting Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain in London.

Talking to journalists at the Parliament House on Thursday, Senator Rabbani said that under constitutional provisions the attorney-general was supposed to defend the federal government and provide legal advice but he was not required to meet political leaders. “It is very strange that he should go and call on Altaf Hussain and he owes to explain his position.”

He said that if Mr Qayyum was fond of playing the role of a politician he should have first resigned from his post.

Mr Qayyum had left the country last week on what was termed a ‘private’ visit to Britain but later he is reported to have appeared in a Swiss court in connection with withdrawal of corruption cases.

Senator Rabbani said he would represent the prime minister and defend his government as the Leader of the House but would not defend President Musharraf.

Responding to a question, he said that in his view the presidency and not the person of the president was part of parliament and hence he was not supposed to defend Gen (retd) Musharraf.