This was stated by provincial chief of PML-Q Saleem Saifullah at an Iftar-dinner, here on Monday. He said the four parties had decided to join hands for smooth functioning of the democratic process in the province. “If the PML-N wants to cooperate with the combine opposition, they would be welcome,” he said.
“It is better to unite small parties on one strong opposition platform rather than sitting on so many benches,” he maintained.
The combine opposition had 43 members which would play a positive role, he claimed and added: “We will avoid opposition for the sake of opposition in the assembly.”
Saleem Saifullah said that everybody wanted the assembly to complete its term and for that purpose a strong government with strong opposition was important.
He stated that the opposition would cooperate with the treasury for the rights of the province. The net profit on hydel power generation was the constitutional right of the province and Wapda should disburse the amount to the NWFP government, he said.
The PML-Q leader said that the party had convened a meeting in the evening to decide its candidates for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker. “But we may also decide not to field a candidate as the MMA has a clear majority of 80 MPAs including the PML-N and independent members in the 122-member NWFP Assembly.”
To a query, he said that the Legal Framework Order was now a part of the Constitution. President Gen Pervez Musharraf had taken the oath under the LFO.
“The LFO issue should not be discussed all the time. Let the system run smoothly and when the democracy has taken its roots these issues will subside with due passage of time,” he said. “Only parliament has the authority to undo the amendments to the Constitution made by the president,” he maintained.
He also dispelled an impression that there was a rift in the ranks of the PML-Q on the distribution of ministries to other parties.
There was only one federal minister from the NWFP, but in the next phase more MNAs from the province would be adjusted in the federal cabinet, he said.