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PESHAWAR, Aug 20: Federal Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has accused the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal of changing goalposts after reaching an agreement over three most contentious issues of the Legal Framework Order.
“Issues regarding president’s holding the office of army chief, Article 52 (2)(B) and National Security Council has been settled. The president has shown maximum flexibility. It is just that the opposition wants to blame him for the failure of the talks,” Mr Ahmad said while speaking to reporters at a press conference held at a hotel on Wednesday.
“When the three issues were settled, the MMA brought another nine points that included the demand to declare Friday as a closed day and Islamizing the PTV programmes.”
The minister, who was a chief guest at a photo exhibition of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, said the only issue that was to be sorted out of the article 58 (2)(B) was whether the president should seek a verdict from the Supreme Court or dismiss the whole cabinet instead of packing up the entire parliament.
He claimed that the MMA had also agreed to the constitution of National Security Council but wanted that it be established through an act of parliament. “We said we have no problem with that.”
Mr Ahmad also claimed that the MMA had agreed to let the president hold the office of the Chief of Army Staff. “They now want to blame him for the failure of the talks which is not true,” he argued.
He said that the government had convened the National Assembly and would make every effort to run its affairs in accordance with the Constitution. “The assembly is for making laws and not desk-thumping,” he remarked.
Referring to a statement of President Musharraf, the minister said that the assemblies would complete their term.
He said that parliamentarians had asked President Musharraf to address the parliament. “It is the prerogative of the president to address the house when he chooses.”
He said that there was a ‘fifty-fifty’ chance of success of government-MMA talks.
#KALABAGH DAM:# The minister faced a volley of questions regarding President Musharraf’s statement relating the Kalabagh dam and assured that the federal government would take political parties into confidence.
“We will try to allay their fears and apprehensions and remove misunderstandings. Kalabagh dam is not a dam of the NWFP or any other province. It is Pakistan’s dam. No city will sink. Let it be very clear,” he said.
The issue would be resolved through negotiations. “We will not be stubborn,” he remarked.
He said that the only way to bring down electricity rates was to build more dams. He blamed the PPP government of Benazir Bhutto for agreements with the independent power producers (IPPs).
#SENDING TROOPS TO IRAQ:# The federal information minister reiterated the government’s stand that no decision had been made on sending troops to Iraq. “We are considering the issue in the light of decision made by the Arab League. But there is no decision so far.”
#SUPPORT TO TALIBAN:# Mr Ahmad made some critical remarks when asked about Kabul’s allegations that Taliban were using Pakistan’s territory to launch attacks inside Afghanistan.
“We have our troops there on the border on their (Afghanistan) request. We are not interested in grabbing their territory. But if they are not giving Pukhtuns their rights and a Punjshiri group is dominating the scene there, it is for them to think over.”
#OPERATION AGAINST AL QAEDA:# The minister debunked the claim by the NWFP government that it had not been taken into confidence when the law enforcement agencies raided a house in Hayatabad last week, killing a suspected Al Qaeda operative.
“It is as much a matter of national security for us as it is for them (MMA government). The provincial police were there as well.”
Earlier, he inaugurated the photo exhibition organized by the directorate general of films and publications.
