The first walkout from the present National Assembly (NA) was staged here on Tuesday by none other than the highly charged legislators of the PML-N, who happen to be major partners of the ruling coalition.
The walkout was to angrily protest the decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) to disqualify Mian Nawaz Sharif from contesting the by-elections scheduled for June 26. Before the walkout, one speaker after another posed the serious question to the PPP, their senior coalition partner, whether they wanted to keep the coalition intact or wanted to defend the handpicked PCO judges of President Pervez Musharraf.
While the PML-N MNAs fumed and fretted, most of the members at the treasury benches patiently and calmly listened to the emotional speeches of their colleagues.Veteran parliamentarian Syed Zafar Ali Shah of the PPP went a step further and termed the LHC decision a “mini 58-2 (b) that was to be used against the Punjab and would soon be used against the federal government”.
Taking the Floor, PML-N acting parliamentary leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan asked the government to clarify its position as to who was making the policies of the government. “What was going on eight years back same is happening again as check post has been established all around the constitution avenue to protect the PCO judges of the Supreme Court,” he added.
He said the time has come that parliament must decide whether they wanted to move towards democracy or continuation of the dictatorship. “The parliament has to make a pledge that they will not take power through the uniform of an army dictator, while the treasury benches have to learn from the past mistakes,” he added.
He alleged that the government was protecting the PCO judges and asked the PPP to clarify its policies on the issue. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the people had given a clear mandate on February 18 for bringing back the rule of law in the country.
Recalling the services of Zulifikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, he said they never compromised on the basic principle but they scarified their lives. I am sure that following in the footsteps of their illustrious leaders, no PPP leader or member can even think of making any compromises. “I know they will not do it,” he added.
He categorically stated that if Mian Nawaz Sharif was disqualified 100 times, an unending struggle against dictatorship would be waged at all costs, adding that the dictator in 2002 tried to close the doors of the House for the PML-N but failed. And now the people have given their clear verdict in February 18, 2008 elections against him.
Nisar said: “The disqualification of the PML-N Quaid from by-polls would not deter us as we have faced more serious situations and crises courageously on our own while our leadership was out of the country.”
He said that the PCO judges were imposed by a dictator and the incumbent government was protecting these judges, adding that the future of the country depends on the free judiciary. “A series of conspiracies was hatched since the filing of nomination papers,” adding that three judges of the High Court rejected the verdict of 13 judges of the Supreme Court.
He said Ahsan Iqbal presented an audio tape a few weeks back and the PML-N has another tape which would also expose the involvement of rulers in the affairs of the judiciary. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi warned that if parliament did not take independent decisions to save the country and resolve the problems of the people they would not be spared by the nation and it would have to face the music.
He said the PML-N had not joined the coalition merely for getting ministries but this alliance was aimed at bringing back the country on the rails of democracy and to kick out dictatorship. “It is a defining moment for us to take wise decisions to avert assassination of political leaders and stop their exiles otherwise the hidden forces would continue to play with the destiny of the nation and the country,” he added.
He said that the verdict regarding the disqualification of Mian Nawaz Sharif has been taken by a “kangaroo court”.He emphasised that parliament alone does not guarantee democracy but an independent judiciary is also essential in this regard. “The PPP is demanding a probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto from the United Nations, which reflects that they also do not believe in PCO judges,” he added.
He said Mian Nawaz Sharif is struggling in accordance with the prevailing situation and has taken all decision in the interest of people and these decisions would be written in the history of the country in golden words.
He said that PML-N made alliance with the PPP not for power, adding that Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for the people of the country and if we did not change our attitude then the country could witness more of similar incidents.
Ayaz Amir said that Nawaz Sharif has expressed his dismay over the decision. He said Pakistan’s history is full of wasted opportunities as whenever opportunities came in the country, they were always wasted.
He said the people of Pakistan gave mandate to two parties in February 18 elections with hopes and expectations to deliver but all their hopes were diminishing day-by-day. “The situation is not in the grip of the rulers and they are not foreseeing the future,” he said.
He said the people in 1970 also gave the mandate to two political parties but the country was divided into two. “In 1971, we slipped to disaster and why are we on the way of repeating the same mistake,” he added.
He said the Murree declaration was a clear decision in which two parties made a solemn commitment to the nation but hurdles were created to implement the promise. He said some in the government showed their cleverness while drafting the constitutional package to protect the NRO and to protect the Supreme Court that validated Pervez Musharraf. “The objectives of 17th Amendment were clear but the constitutional package of this government is not clear as to what do the authors of the package want to achieve from it,” he added.
He said it was being said that the impeachment was being moved against the president but to the contrary all actions were being taken to protect and strengthen Pervez Musharraf. “The PML-N had shown more flexibility than needed but why are our coalition partners pushing us to wall as it will damage both of us,” he added.
He said the PML-N wanted to keep the coalition intact but the other coalition partners will also show their seriousness and sincerity in this regard.PML-Q leader Sheikh Waqas said the reaction of PML-N workers and leadership regarding disqualification of Nawaz Sharif is something very natural, but the way they expressed their feelings in the House on the decision of Lahore High Court is contempt of Court under the Article 204 para B of the Constitution.
He said the PML-Q parliamentarians would not comment on the decision of the Court.Ahsan Iqbal said that it is a defining moment and the coalition partners have to prove that they are committed to implementing the ‘Murree Declaration’ and the ‘Charter of Democracy.’
He asked PPP to clarify its position on the judge’s issue and said if the decisions like Nawaz Sharif’s case continued the fate of coalition will be endangered.He said the differences within the coalition have hampered the solution of basic issues like poverty, supremacy of constitution, reinstatement of judges and impeachment of president.
Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada of PML-Q said that provision of justice is pre-requisite for a democratic order and today we have to decide the fate of the country whether it has to run through democratic way or otherwise. “I am even ready to quit this House for the cause of restoration and supremacy of judiciary,” he added.
Tehmina Daultana called for restoration of deposed judges saying that it was very necessary for a free judiciary in the country. Hanif Abbasi of PML-N said “Time has come to unite on this platform (Parliament) and take a decision in the vital interest of the country and the nation. Deposed judges can be reinstated through an executive order,” he added.
Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi said statements by legislators regarding the disintegration of the country is disappointing while factually the situation is somewhat better. He said feudalism is creating anomalies in the society and called for bringing an end to this system.
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