ISLAMABAD, May 5: Opposition senators on Wednesday lashed out at the ruling coalition members for supporting the formation of the National Security Council (NSC) and accused them of becoming a tool in the hands of President Pervez Musharraf.

Taking part in a debate on a motion on the "implications of the National Security Council (NSC) Act" in the upper house, opposition senators termed the 13-seat council a negation of the basic structure of the constitution.

The debate was initiated by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) parliamentary leader Prof Khursheed Ahmed who said the NSC had made the president an all-powerful man who would appoint all services chiefs - who will NSC members - and had powers to dissolve the National Assembly.

The MMA leader said permanent involvement of armed forces in politics through the NSC would adversely affect their professionalism and the country's defence. Pakistan's global image had also been tarnished with the establishment of the NSC, he added.

Awami National Party (ANP) leader Asfandyar Wali responded to points raised by Mr Mohammad Ali Durrani of the National Alliance in support of the NSC and said the council was actually a curb on provincial autonomy.

"The parliament has cut its own hands by passing the National Security Council Act," he said, adding: "Now the parliament is here only to implement the NSC decisions." About the government's argument that the NSC would prevent future martial laws, he said. "By imposing a permanent martial law, how can we say that there will be no martial laws in future?"

Senator Durrani said the NSC would prevent military interventions and the elected institutions would complete their mandated terms. He said representation of the government, opposition, provinces and armed forces on the NSC would help build a national consensus on issues and strengthen democratic institutions.

wheat crisis: The opposition lashed out at the government for permitting Punjab to continue the ban it had imposed on inter-provincial movement of wheat. This move, the opposition claimed, had rendered hundreds of people jobless in the Frontier province alone.

The opposition refused to accept Food and Agriculture Minister Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind's explanation that the federal cabinet had put a ban on wheat export and decided to ensure flour supply to all the provinces.

After several speeches, the food minister was forced to give a firm assurance to the house that Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali would again be asked to contact the Punjab chief minister to get the ban lifted in a few days. The prime minister has already had a meeting with the chief minister on the issue.

ABSENT MINISTERS: On the second day running, the opposition asked Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro to pass strictures against relevant ministers for absence during the question hour.