HYDERABAD, July 6: The Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP), in a policy statement issued here on Friday, rejected the constitutional package and amendments in the Political Parties Act.
It said the powers of the National Assembly, Senate, prime minister and the president and the division of powers between the centre and the provinces could only be decided by the parliament inducted into power through transparent and impartial general elections.
The CPP said it was only possible if the power was immediately handed over to well-reputed retired judges of the Supreme Court after the army was sent back to barracks and an autonomous election commission was appointed by the interim government.
The party said the generals were trying to play a new game through “puppet” politicians which, it said, had become clear from the remarks of Gen Tanveer Naqvi who had openly said that the power should remain in the hands of the generals.
It said during the last 54 years, Pakistan had always remained in the grip of crisis created by the generals with the blessings of America.
The party said Pakistan was disintegrated as a result of the 1958 martial law and due to conspiracies, an elected prime minister was sent to the gallows.
The CPP was of the opinion that due to the army action against the movement for the restoration of democracy, the rights of the nations were usurped.
It said that after 1988, various governments were rendered weak and ineffective.
It further said the economy of the country was being managed under the dictates of the IMF and World Bank which was evident from the national budget for the fiscal year 2002-2003. The party said even the prices of oil, gas, onions and potatoes were fixed at the insistence of the imperialist forces.
The party appealed to the people and all the democratic, progressive and nationalist forces to reject the constitutional amendment package and the amendments in the Political Parties Act and wage a joint struggle to restore true democracy.
The CPP said the national rights, the rights of the people, especially women, and employment could only be guaranteed by a democratic government.
STPP: Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party (STPP) chairman Dr Qadir Magsi has said the code of conduct approved by the election commission is a dacoity on the right of freedom of expression.
He said the rulers wanted to thrust their own agenda on the political parties and the people through the election commission.
In a statement issued here on Friday, Dr Magsi, who is also the president of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement, Sindh chapter, urged the political parties and the people at large to reject the so-called code of conduct.
He said the restrictions imposed under the code of conduct were only suitable for those forces which believed in status quo and the political parties would not be able to highlight their party programme.
Dr Magsi said these restrictions were against the very spirit of democracy, adding that these would make the general election meaningless.
SEMINAR: The Institute of Modern Sciences and Arts, Hyderabad, organized a seminar on mobile programming here the other day.
CITY NAZIM: Hyderabad City Taluka Nazim Moinuddin Shaikh has expressed dissatisfaction over the recovery of taxes and fees and directed the town officer (regulation) to take action against the recovery staff which had failed to recover the rent of municipal properties and other taxes and fees.