The Pakistan National Assembly would meet today (Monday) ad midst growing fears over security,uncertainty on the choice of the incumbent Premier and rift between the Parliament and President.
Prior to its meet, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is likely to inform its coalition partner, Pakistan Muslim League (PML/Q) the names for the Speaker and Deputy Speakers Posts. However, the name for the Prime minister is expected to be announced only during the course of this week. This is because of the prevalence of internal rifts within the party. Despite his being isolated, Mr.Makhdoom Amin Fahim insists that he is very much in the reckoning for the top post. Mr.Zardari’s taking up the mantle is also being talked about, but this is not likely to happen immediately, as he is not a Member of the Assembly.Whether it is a stop gap arrangement or otherwise, the choice has to fall on a close of confidant of Mr.Zardari. However, the Prime minister is expected to be sworn only in the next Session of the Assembly. Thus, the convening of the same has a limited objective of electing the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
In the meanwhile, the issue of restoring the Judiciary to its original status of ND Nov 007 is turning out to be a major bone of contention between pro-Musharraf and anti-Musharraff factions. While the camp backing Musharraf are of the opinion that legally the sacked judges can be restored to their position only by an amendment to the Constitution requiring two-thirds support of the Parliament, the anti-Musharraf legal community believes that this could be done through a stroke of a pen, i.e. an executive order.
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