KARACHI, July 20: The deputy chief of Jamaat-i-Islami, Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmad has said that the Legal Framework Order (LFO) has turned the basis of the Constitution from parliamentary into presidential.

In support of his contention, he pointed out that despite presence of a legitimately elected parliament, all decision were being taken by Gen Musharraf because all powers had been invested in the office of the president.

Prof Ghafoor, who has been elected as Senator on the ticket of theMuttahida Majlis-i-Amal, was addressing the concluding session of three-day Annual Sindh Convention of the Jamiat Talibat at Idara Noor-i-Haq here on Sunday.

Narrating the ‘anomalies in the LFO’, he maintained that the LFO could not become part of the Constitution without its approval by the parliament. “If Gen Musharraf wants to introduce a constitutional amendment package, he should present it before the parliament for an approval in accordance with the Constitution.”

The JI leader remarked that no individual could be given the right to amend the Constitution. How could a person be authorized to amend the Constitution while even the Supreme Court did not have such powers? he argued. He eulogized the collective efforts of the Jamiat Talibat towards reforms in the society and promoting Islam.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Wasay Shakir, Zar Afshan Ferheen, Nadia Bushra, Fatima Amin, Omema Saeed and Iman Sadiqa highlighted various aspects of the religion with focus on the importance of learning.

The city chief of Jamaat-i-Islami, Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui told the audience that the JI would take 10 steps towards the development and prosperity of the metropolis with any one who took one step in this direction with an aim of serving the citizens. His remarks appeared in response to the appeal for cooperation made by Altaf Hussain, chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Dr Siddiqui pointed out that his party always welcomed any effort made by any party or welfare organization to serve the people and would continue to do so because this city had been turned into ‘a city of lights’ after many years and should not be pushed into darkness again. The JI would not allow this to happen, he added. He said that the JI always respected the mandate of people. He observed that like MNAs and MPAs, the Nazims and councillors had also been elected by the masses and the mandate of people must be respected. People have voted for all the elected representatives to get their problems solved, he pointed out and said that the city’s interests should not be sacrificed in the power struggle.