QUETTA, April 12: Awami National Party chief Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that the withdrawal of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution and annulment of the National Security Council Act were necessary for the restoration of the sovereignty of parliament and strengthening of the federal parliamentary system.

Speaking at public meetings in Harnai, Loralai and Zhob, he alleged that the army clique and religious leaders had joined hands to weaken the political and democratic institutions and deprive the smaller nationalities of their rights.

Asfandyar Wali warned that the 17th Amendment and the establishment of the NSC had jeopardized the sovereign status of parliament. He said the exclusion of smaller provinces' representatives from the decision-making forums would have a negative impact on the country's unity.

He asserted that the separation of East Pakistan and the setback in the Afghan policy were the results of unwise policies adopted by the anti-people rulers. He said President Gen Pervez Musharraf in collaboration with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal had committed a political blinder by passing the 17th Amendment and forming the NSC, which would destabilize the country.

He said the parties of the smaller nationalities would not accept the 17th Amendment and the NSC as those were aimed at controlling the provinces through the district governments and parliament through the council to benefit Punjab.

The ANP leader said the smaller provinces had rendered great sacrifices against the one-unit system and unitary form of government but the establishment was once again trying to suppress the voice of the provinces through the experiment of district governments.

He said the centre should retain the subjects of currency, defence, foreign relations and communications and the remaining portfolios should be transferred to the federating units.

He lashed out at the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for deceiving the people in the name of enforcement of Shariat and maintained that the alliance's leadership was covertly backing President Musharraf in his efforts to weaken the parliamentary opposition.

He alleged that the government was not sincere in apprehending foreign terrorists in South Waziristan. He said the establishment knew where Al Qaeda and Taliban activists were hiding but innocent Pukhtuns were being defamed in the international community.

Asfandyar Wali said the rulers must realize the ground realities and recognize the rights of the smaller nationalities as oppression could not continue in the existing global situation.

REMANDED: Accountability court judge Mohammad Naeem Kakar on Monday remanded former senior post master, Sibi, Khalid Ahmed, who was arrested from Karachi, in the National Accountability Bureau's custody for 10 days.