September 21, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 20, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 20: The PML-N on Saturday decided to formally complain to the president about, what it called “unconstitutional and unbecoming to the office of Governor” activities of Mr Salmaan Taseer.

Rana Sanaullaha Khan, provincial law minister, will file a “reference” to the president – appointing authority of the Governor-- since the Constitution was silent on what to be done if a governor ‘violates oath of his office’.

Talking to Dawn, Sana said the PML-N would list “all unconstitutional activities of the governor and his conduct that was below the respect attached to his office.”

Dilating upon the charge sheet, he said governor’s speech on the occasion of election of Mr Asif Ali Zardari as president of the country was one such example.

In this regard, Sana also referred to launch of election campaign of a Supreme Court Bar hopeful by the governor on Friday at a local hotel, terming it another violation of the oath of his office. “Today, he has launched the campaign of a candidate, tomorrow he might be addressing the bars throughout Punjab,” he said. Legally and constitutionally speaking, he could not indulge in such activities as a governor, he claimed.

“His daily statement pregnant with political and divisive content is tantamount to insult to the provincial assembly. Like, he was quoted as saying the Punjab chief minister begged him to administer the oath of his office. Such statements are insult to the Punjab Assembly, which as a sovereign house, elected the chief minister. The house could take up the issue as a breach of privilege and any member can move such motion,” he said.

“It is just a matter of putting things in black and white,” says another PML-N office-bearer from Punjab. “Otherwise, the party has informed the PPP and the president about the conduct of Punjab governor. The president had promised to set things right and even publicly committed to restrain the governor from issuing anti-PML-N statements. But, unfortunately, things are turning out to be exactly the opposite,” he lamented.

“No governor, having the slightest idea of the respect of his office, would be calling the members of the PML-Q forward bloc and herding them towards Zahoor Elahi Road. The PML-N can understand even the prime minister asking forward bloc members to go to Pervaiz Elahi, because of political nature of his office. But, a governor, who holds an apolitical office, cannot get into political maneuverings,” he said.

“For the time being, Rana Sanaullah, as provincial law minister, would write to the president of Pakistan, pointing out all illegal and un-ethical posturing and uttering of the governor, he said. But, if things do not improve, as they have not since last assurance by the president, the higher PML-N leadership may also take up the matter. Mr Nawaz Sharif is back and final strategy in this regard would naturally be decided by him,” he said.