LAHORE, Aug 22: The pro-government PML(QA) received a serious setback as President Gen Pervez Musharraf ignored in his Wednesdays’s Legal Framework Order an important issue which is the first point of the party’s election manifesto — that legislation by presidential ordinance shall be done away with, as this militates against the letter and spirit of the parliamentary system.

The party wanted to take away the president’s power to legislate to make the parliament more effective. Party leaders had also taken up the matter at a meeting with Gen Musharraf.

However, the general has preferred to keep this power with him as also many other vital powers.

The PML(QA) manifesto commits the party to set up a special TV channel for live coverage of the parliament proceedings.

The manifesto also says that the functioning of the parliamentary committees shall be made more efficient by making them accountable to the respective ministries and departments.

Meanwhile, the PML(QA) on Thursday praised the Legal Framework Order (LFO) given by President Gen Musharraf, saying it was far better than the original package announced for public debate.

Talking to reporters, secretary for overseas organization Sikandar Hayat Malhi said by restoring the legislators’ right to conscience vote the president had restored the sanctity of parliament and its members. This demand, he recalled, had been made by a delegation of the PML(QA) which had recently met the general.

The PML(QA), he said, had wanted that the president should not have the power to dissolve the assembly. But, he said, the general has preferred to follow the precedent set by the late Gen Zia.

About the formation of the National Security Council, he said, it was a good step, specially when the representation of the civilians had been enhanced. Since the role of the NSC would be advisory, nobody should have any objection to the establishment of this organization, he added.

Mr Malhi welcomed the provision that the president would consult the NSC before deciding the dissolution of the assembly.

He said the provision that the provincial governors should be appointed in consultation with the prime minister was what the PML(QA) had been advocating for since long.

Referring to the restoration of the president’s power to appoint the services’ chiefs, Mr Malhi said there was nothing new in it. This power was also available to President Zia and all parties had accepted it.

He alleged that opposition parties were raising a hue and cry just for the sake of opposition. Parliament, he stressed, would now have all those powers which it had been enjoying in the past.