SWABI, Aug 29: There is no value of Legal Framework Order (LFO) in our statute book and the PML(N) would work for the restoration of 1973 constitution, which advocates for a true parliamentary democracy and prevent the army meddling in politics.

This was stated by the PML(N) central general secretary Saranjam Khan while talking to newsmen here on Thursday. He said President Musharraf has invoked the supreme court judgment to amend the 1973 constitution but the apex court could only interpret the constitution.

The court, he said, has no authority to either amend the constitution or to bestow such power to anyone. Looking to the LFO, the president had rewritten the basic law of the land, which in a democratic society is the prerogative of the people’s elected legislature while questioning the Supreme Court intention to give such power to a military regime.

The amendments in the 1973 constitution can only be inserted by the elected parliaments by two-third majority and after the October election it would be one of the top priorities of the elected representatives, he said adding that except the King’s party all political parties wanted the restoration of a true parliamentary system in which the prime minister enjoys a dominant position.

Through the Legal Framework Order, he said, President Musharraf has converted the parliamentary type of government into presidential form and now the president is in a position to usurp the function of the elected parliament but the elected people would never bow to his dictation.

To a question he said that high court had declared that there was no case against the PML(N) central president Shahbaz Sharif but the military regime has said that he would not be allowed to stage a come back which may be called “power politics” .

He questioned the government’s authority that how a citizen of a country could be prevented from returning to his motherland while rejecting the plea of the government that the Sharif family had exiled under a deal.

After the controversial referendum under the incumbent chief election commissioner he said his party stalwarts demanded that he should tender his resignation because a fair and transparent election under his authority is not possible. The Election Commission leans towards the government have made him more controversial, he said.

Gen Musharraf’s acknowledgement about the controversial referendum had made the chief election commissioner more controversial and in principle he should say goodbye to his job, paving the way for the appointment of a non-controversial chief election commissioner, he added.

He claimed that the forthcoming election would be between pro- American and pro-Islamic/patriotic parties. One side has extended its all support to the military regime and the other wanted the restoration of a true parliamentary democracy.

He demanded across the board accountability and said the military has only targeted those politicians who opposed the government agenda and a permanent military role in the politics.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had recovered Rs47 crore only from the former Admiral Mansoor-ul-Haq and only Rs76 crore from all the politicians. If two other military personals have confronted accountability then a huge amount of plundered money would have been recovered and that was the reason that along with the politicians the generals should also face the accountability.

About Pakistan’s debt burden he said that out of $38 billion only $5 billion had been spent on the nation while the remaining $33 billion had used by the military, saying the generals are responsible for pushing Pakistan into the quagmire of debt.

He said the PML(N) doors have been remained open for alliance with all political parties but he ruled out any alliance with the PPPP, saying talks has been continued unabated with the Muttahida Majli-I-Amal and other political parties.