August 13, 2008	Wednesday	Sha’aban 10, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Pakistan Muslim League-N minister Khwaja Saad Rafiq on Tuesday sent a strong message to the pro-Musharraf PML-Q, making a fervent appeal to all political forces to stop supporting the man who was responsible for all the ills the country was facing and who let the country down on many accounts, including army’s humiliation in Kargil, compromise on Kashmir and damage caused to the Constitution.

Addressing a National Assembly session, the youth affairs minister accused President Musharraf of fencing the line of control between India and Pakistan and winding up Kashmiri jihadi camps.The house resounded with slogans of ‘Go Musharraf go”, with almost no reaction from opposition lawmakers.

“I appeal to all politicians, including PML-Q leaders, to shun their support for a man who was a murderer of the Constitution and killer of the Kashmir policy and Kashmiri people,” Mr Rafiq said. It was a normal sitting during which more than two dozen bills were introduced by both opposition and treasury members, with some being deferred and others dropped because of the absence of the movers. Mr Rafiq, who is one of four PML-N ministers who recently rejoined the federal cabinet, condemned the Indian crackdown on Kashmiris and killing of APHC leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz by the occupied forces.

He said the previous government had done nothing for the cause of Kashmir.

Earlier, PML-Q lawmaker Marvi Memon proposed that the house adopt a resolution condemning Indian atrocities and gunning down of Sheikh Abdul Aziz. Speaking on a point of order, Ms Marvi supported Gen (retd) Musharraf’s Kashmir policy and claimed that the PML-Q government had served the cause of Kashmir. She alleged that the present government was not interested in pursuing the Kashmir cause.

In response to a call-attention notice about the spread of polio cases, Information Minister Sherry Rehman said that the deadly virus had come from Afghanistan.

Ms Rehman, who also looks after the ministry of health, said the government was coordinating with the provinces responsible for the implementation of immunisation projects.

She said she was also in touch with Indian and Afghan authorities on the issue and was keeping herself abreast of latest developments to control outbreak of the virus. The government appeared to be too generous in allowing the opposition lawmakers to introduce some important constitutional amendment bills during the first part of the sitting.

Dr Doonya Aziz’s bill seeking amendments to the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act, 2005, was not opposed by the government.

Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada of PML-Q introduced a bill seeking insertion of new Article 245-A into the Constitution.

Minority lawmaker Asya Nasir of the PML-Q moved a bill seeking an amendment to Articles 51 and 59 pertaining to minorities.

A bill seeking amendment to Articles 73 and 80 of the Constitution was introduced by PML-Q’s Riaz Fatiana. Yasmeen Rahman, a treasury member, sought a protection clause in the Constitution for women, children and family.