June 19, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 14, 1429

MUZAFFARABAD, June 18: The combined opposition in the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday blamed the government of ‘spoiling the spirit of democratic system’ by disrespecting and denying its (opposition’s) mandate and rights.

The opposition accused the government of being ‘insincere’ and ‘inflexible’ on some very vital issues concerning the interests of common men.

Earlier the opposition boycotted the budget session after talks between them and the Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan failed.

The prime minister did not accept some very genuine demands such as enforcement of merit in appointments, reconstitution of PSC and withdrawal of a controversial notification declaring non- elected or defeated ruling party leaders as “notables to be considered for development projects in the constituencies of opposition lawmakers,” said leader of the opposition Sardar Qamaruz Zaman Khan at a news conference after the budget session.

Deputy Speaker Sardar Farooq Ahmed Tahir prorogued the session to meet again on June 23 for debate on the fiscal document.

As the house met, three hours after the scheduled time, the prime minister took the floor prior to the finance minister and stated that the government had agreed to eight points of the opposition’s charter of demands and there was discord at only two points, but regrettably the opposition had still chosen to refrain from the session.

However, Mr Zaman rejected the premier’s assertion at the press conference, saying that the talks failed because the “government’s tendency towards disparaging the opposition’s mandate was widely visible.”

On Tuesday evening, the leader of the opposition had told Dawn that an official team had accepted most of their demands and opposition was ‘half ready’ to attend the budget session.

When reminded about his statement and asked if some “hard- liners” in the opposition ranks had stalled their participation in the session, Mr Zaman dispelled the impression and asserted that the opposition had collectively decided to boycott the session.

“The attitude of the government left us with no option but to stay away from the house,” he said.