KARACHI, June 15: Leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the Pakistan People’s Party on Sunday deplored the National Assembly Speaker’s ruling on declaring LFO part of the constitution and termed it an attempt to sabotage the process of dialogue between government and the combined opposition parties.

Raza Rabbani, deputy secretary-general of the PPP, visited the residence of MMA chairman Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, and discussed with him the general political situation, with reference to speaker’s ruling and its consequences. He was accompanied by Rashid Rabbani.

Both sides expressed their indignation over the ruling which they termed an attempt to sabotage the process of dialogue, said the sources.

They were of the view that the resolution adopted by the ruling party in favour of Gen Pervez Musharraf, in the absence of the combined opposition had no moral or legal significance. They maintained that it could at best be termed as a resolution adopted by the parliamentary party of the PML-Q. It cannot be termed a resolution adopted by the National Assembly, they said.

According to sources, both sides maintained that the ruling should be condemned in strong terms because it would have serious consequences for the constitutional democratic dispensation and conduct of the House.

They were of the view that the Speaker NA had shed his cloak of impartiality and could no longer be regarded as a custodian of the House.

They said the manner in which the ruling has been given by the Speaker reveals the ulterior motives of the government otherwise it would not have acted in such a manner.

They said that in the past transitions from military to civilian governance, all acts, orders, laws, etc., were given force of law after being validated by the parliament.

During the meeting, both the sides also agreed to hold a meeting of the combined opposition before the Senate session on Tuesday in the Parliament House at 9.30 am.

The meeting is significant as opposition parties had been demanding more stern response, including moving a no-confidence motion against the Speaker, who, they believe is not impartial.