September 19, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 18, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: The Pakistan Muslim League-N has called upon President Asif Ali Zardari to quit his party office before addressing the joint session of the parliament on Saturday.

The demand was made by the newly-appointed Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, at a news conference at Punjab House on Thursday.

“This is our first demand that he (Mr Zardari) should announce quitting the party office before or during his address to the joint session of the parliament (on Saturday),” Chaudhry Nisar said, adding that it would be better if Mr Zardari represented the federation and the country instead of representing a political party.

Mr Zardari is presently holding the office of the co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party and virtually running the affairs of the party as well as the government.

There have been demands from various sections of society, including major political parties, that Mr Zardari should follow the democratic tradition and resign from the party office. However, it is not mandatory under the Constitution. Former president Pervez Musharraf faced severe criticism from all political parties, including the PPP, for patronising the formerly ruling PML-Q while sitting in the presidency.

Chaudhry Nisar also urged Mr Zardari to give a timeframe for the repeal of the 17th Amendment during his address. “The nation expects that he (Mr Zardari) will announce a certain timeframe to repeal the 17th Amendment,” the PML-N leader said, clarifying that the repeal of the 17th Amendment did not mean simply abolishment of Article 58-2(b). He explained that there was a need to remove the amendments made during the Musharraf era so that the parliamentary system could function in totality.

The PPP, in its manifesto, promised to repeal the 17th Amendment and before his election as president on Sept 6, Mr Zardari had several times stated that the civilian president would not have powers to dissolve the National Assembly under Article 58-2(b). However, several political parties, including PML-N, are now expressing apprehensions that after Mr Zardari’s election, PPP may go back on its commitment.

Chaudhry Nisar said his party was ready to cooperate with PPP if it took any step towards implementation of the Charter of Democracy, signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in May 2006.

Commenting on a statement of attorney general Sardar Latif Khosa that constitutional amendment could be made only after the Senate elections in March next year, the PML-N leader said that there was no need to delay the process as his party was ready to cooperate with PPP in this regard.

The opposition leader reminded Mr Zardari of his commitment to restore the deposed judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Chaudhry Nisar rejected the formula given by Law Minister Farooq Naek for the reinstatement of judges and termed it a “joke” with the nation and the judiciary.

He assured the lawyers’ community that his party would continue to support their struggle inside and outside parliament.

He asked Mr Zardari to form a “truth and reconciliation commission” on the pattern of South Africa to probe the massacre in Balochistan, killing of Baloch sardar Nawab Akbar Bugti, missing persons’ case and Lal Masjid operation. He said the commission should be asked to present its report within three months.

He also called for formation of a parliamentary committee to prepare recommendations for providing relief to the poor.

Chaudhry Nisar expressed concern over US attacks in tribal areas and asked President Zardari to come out with a “clear stand”. He regretted that so far the president had not issued any statement on frequent violations of Pakistan’s territorial integrity.

Chaudhry Nisar asked the government to make it clear whether the agreements between the US and Gen (retd) Musharraf were still valid.