LAHORE, May 20: A sum of Rs160 million has so far been spent on salaries and other benefits of MNAs and senators who, however, have not been able to come up with any significant piece of legislation for the good of the masses.

Punjab Millat Party information secretary Imran Riaz, Millat Labour Bureau chief Chaudhry Zaheer and others made this statement at a press conference they had arranged here on Tuesday to “expose the Opposition’s performance” during the last six months.

They regretted that members of the Opposition had enjoyed all perks and benefits for attending National Assembly sessions during the last six months but did not allow smooth proceedings of the house.

The PPP and the PML-N want to put an end to the incumbent democratic system so that ground could be levelled for the return of their exiled leadership, they alleged. Both the parties were exploiting the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) for their own agenda, they added.

Criticizing the Opposition’s protest at the LFO and uniform issues, they said had these parties raised such a strong voice for elimination of poverty and unemployment, the government would have been forced to take practical steps to solve these problems.

They said people’s confidence in politics and politicians, democracy and democratic institutions would be restored only when they were able to play their respective roles for the betterment of the common man in accordance with the democratic norms. “Only then the day will come when people take to streets for the survival of democracy and democratic institutions and not to distribute sweets on the ouster of a democratic government.”

The biggest achievement of the Opposition during the last six months was that it could not elect even their leaders of opposition in the Senate and the National Assembly, they said.

They demanded of the opposition MPs to resign from seats they had won in elections held under the LFO if they did not accept the law.

They should also refund the dues received from the assembly secretariat for attending its sessions as they did not allow the house to function properly, the Millat Party leader said.

The governments of the Opposition in the NWFP and Balochistan should also resign as these were working under the LFO which was not acceptable to them, they said.

The Opposition should inform the masses about the number of bills presented by them in the house so far, they added.