ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The perceived plan to delay the general election and derail democracy was rejected by senators from both sides of the aisle, with a PPP member asking the judiciary to come up with a categorical statement that it was not a stakeholder in the caretaker set-up.

Members from the treasury and opposition benches made it clear that no one would be allowed to destruct the fabric of democracy in the name of reforms which could only be brought through parliament.

Mushahidullah Khan of Pakistan Muslim League-N was the first to raise the issue in the house, triggering fiery speeches against Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran chief Tahirul Qadri’s plan for a long march on Islamabad to seek a change in the system.

He said that with the general polls just around the corner, it was inappropriate to stage such dramas. “Why call for a long march was not given in 2008 when elections were held under Gen Musharraf,” he asked.

He said fingers could be pointed at the poor governance of the government, but inviting army at a time when an elected government was close to the expiry of its term was tantamount to treason.

He termed it a conspiracy against Pakistan and democracy.

Mian Raza Rabbani of the PPP said the call for electoral reforms even at the cost of postponement of polls and the demand for a powerful caretaker government was something in contravention to the constitutional provisions.

“Under the garb of constitutionalism, you are preaching how to undermine the Constitution,” he said.

He said the role of caretaker set-up was limited to the extent of ensuring that the administrative machinery assisted the election commission in holding free and fair elections.

He said the procedure for appointment of caretaker government was clearly defined under Article 224 (1) of the Constitution and any other path adopted for it would be extra-constitutional.

He argued that Article 254 of the Constitution was a saving clause.

“That means you cannot deliberately violate the Constitution and take refuge under the provision.”

He said under Article 222 of the Constitution, it was for parliament to legislate and it was not the job of either the caretaker government or the election commission.

He warned that the federation would face serious threat, if an attempt was made to derail the system and weaken the institutions formed under the Constitution.

He said the people of the country would not allow postponement of polls and bringing in a caretaker set-up through extra-constitutional means.

Two members of the Senate from Balochistan, Mir Hasil Bizenjo of National Party and Kulsoom Parveen of BNP (A), threw a challenge to Tahirul Qadri to gather people in Balochistan, saying that it was not difficult to stage such shows in big cities like Karachi and Lahore.

Afrasiab Khattak of ANP said almost all the major political parties had rejected the call for the long march, which had fizzled out even before its start.

He expressed the confidence that Pakistan would continue to march on democratic path and conspiracies against democracy would be foiled by the masses.

Col (retd) Tahir Mashhadi of MQM was the only member in the house to speak in defence of Tahirul Qadri.

He said it was inappropriate to speak against a person unable to defend himself in the house.

He said those opposed to the ideas of Tahirul Qadri should respond in a democratic way by arranging counter public meetings.

He said the government will lose majority in the house if the MQM parted ways which would create chaos in the country.

Saeed Ghani of PPP said that after a statement from the ISPR that the army was not behind Tahirul Qadri, a statement from the Chief Justice should also come to make it clear that the judiciary was not a stakeholder in the caretaker set-up.

He accused Tahirul Qadri of committing intellectual corruption by misleading the people.

He said no one should be allowed to hold public rallies to violate the Constitution.

Zahid Khan of ANP said that crowd pullers could not be allowed to thrust their decisions on parliament.

Farhatullah Babar of PPP said there were two forces in the country, with one aspiring to bring about change through democratic process and the other through undemocratic means.

The house will meet again today (Friday) at 4pm.