Pakistan's new balance of power

[mujahideen]

ANP opposes use of force in tribal belt

Sunday, March 16, 2008
By Mumtaz Alvi

ISLAMABAD: The Awami National Party (ANP), after coming to power, will push for the resolution of the prevailing volatile situation in the NWFP and the tribal belt through dialogue and will oppose the use of force.

"We will resist tooth and nail any bid from the outside world to undermine Pakistan's sovereignty with regards to the prevailing situation in the tribal belt," asserted ANP President MNA-elect Asfandyar Wali while talking to The News here on Saturday.

He was asked for comments on the reported list of fresh demands given by the United States to Pakistan.

There are also reports that the US is planning to send a batch of security forces to train the local security personnel on how to fight the menace of terrorism. The media also hinted that the US was willing to carry out anti-terror operations inside Pakistan.

The ANP, in no way, would like Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity being undermined, said Asfandyar, claiming that his party would lead in resisting such moves.

When asked for comments on the ongoing tense situation in some areas of the South Waziristan Agency and other Fata areas, he said that his party ìadvocates and believes in non-violence and, therefore, it would go for the centuries-old Jirga system to resolve the problemsî.

He maintained that there was no issue that could not be resolved through talks. "Then why not restore peace and tranquility in the restive tribal areas through a sustained dialogue?" he asked.

When his attention was drawn to the former PML government's claim of engaging the local Taliban elements in talks and then signing peace agreements with them, he said that those might have been done in the capacity of two rival parties.

"But, we will engage such elements in talks on the behalf of the nation, as we have their mandate," he said.

He pointed out that the ANP was given the vote also for its peace-centred manifesto, which was reflective of the massesí aspirations, as the people were fed up with the stop-gap arrangements instead of going for tangible solution of the issues of militancy, terrorism and extremism.

The ANP, which emerged as the single-largest party in the general elections in the province, is in the process of formation of a coalition government with the Pakistan People's Party in the NWFP.

To a question, Asfandyar said that first let the coalition form the provincial government, the chief minister and his cabinet take oath, and then see how they would address the challenge of militancy and terrorism.

ANP opposes use of force in tribal belt

 

[mujahideen]

First major task before Qaim

Sunday, March 16, 2008
By Rauf Klasra

ISLAMABAD: The first major task before the Qaim Ali Shah-led government in Sindh would be to immediately put murder case of Murtaza Bhutto and other criminal cases pending against Asif Zardari before the Review Committee to get them scrapped under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), as it has been done in the case of about 1,000 FIRs pending against the workers of the MQM.

All the six pending corruption cases in the NAB courts against Asif Zardari have already been scrapped in the recent days, after the Musharraf government quietly applied the newly-promulgated NRO.

The last case pending against Zardari was scrapped by the Rawalpindi NAB court on Friday. Now, it is the turn of criminal cases pending against Zardari.

Talking to The News, Attorney General for Pakistan Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum confirmed from Lahore that scrapping of the Murtaza Bhutto murder case against Asif was possible under the NRO laws.

"Yes, I can confirm that under the NRO, Zardari can get the FIR scrapped after proper examination by this committee set up in Sindh. If the committee is convinced, then it can immediately recommend its scrapping, as it has been done in the cases pertaining to the workers of MQM," the AG said. Qayyum said there were two sections, 6 and 7 in the NRO. One deals with the NAB cases and the other with regard to politically-motivated cases registered against the party leaders and workers in the past. He said if the criminal cases registered against Asif Zardari were found to be politically motivated by the provincial review committee, all these FIRs would be scrapped, including that of the Murtaza Bhutto murder case.

Meanwhile, in all these years of persecution of Zardari, the PPPP leadership has been maintaining that he was being victimised by the respective regimes to punish a defiant Benazir Bhutto. Zardari always denied these allegations and termed them a ploy to force Benazir to strike compromises with the establishment, which she always refused.

Two FIRs (First Information Reports) were registered by the police on Sept 20, 1996 and Sept 29, 1996 after the murder of Mir Murtaza Bhutto in a police shootout outside 70-Clifton Karachi. However, Zardari was arrested on allegations made in FIR 443/96, the third FIR accusing him of conspiring to murder Murtaza Bhutto. This trial has been pending for eight years. Zardari was granted bail on medical grounds on Nov 24, 1998. The government's appeal before the Sindh High Court against the bail order is still pending.

Although, all the witnesses have been examined, the trial judge on Sept 19, 1998 dismissed Asif Zardari's acquittal application as being premature.

In February 2000, he appealed this order to the high court, which is still pending. Meanwhile, one published report available with The News reveals that among the cases registered against him was one in which firing on MQM camps in Karachi had resulted in the death of several of the party's workers. He was also implicated in the Murtaza Bokhari kidnapping-for-ransom case. Bokhari, a UK national, lodged a complaint stating that he had remitted a large sum of money from the UK to Karachi for business and was kidnapped by unknown persons who he accused were acting at the behest of Asif Zardari. Bokhari alleged that his captors took him to the bank after strapping a bomb to his leg with the threat that if he did not withdraw the sum of Rs 12 million and hand it over to them, they would detonate the bomb by remote control. Zardari also had three cases registered against him for offences under the Banking Ordinance 1984 in which he was accused of using his influence in granting loans to various individuals.

Cases under the Anti Corruption laws were registered against him for unlawful allotment of KDA land. He was also booked for possessing weapons without licence under Section 13-D of the Arms Act.

However, a change of government was around the corner and he was released after only 18 months in prison. The new political climate required a different approach, and not only was Zardari absolved of all charges, he was instantly elevated to the status of federal minister for water and power in the 13-day cabinet of Balakh Sher Mazari. General elections followed soon after and his party once again returned to power, paving the way for him to once again ensconce himself in the Prime Minister House.

Three years later, on Nov 5, 1996, the PPP government was again dismissed, and Zardari was arrested from the Governor House in the Punjab. Since then, he was released only thrice on parole; for four days in each instance: once when his young nephew committed suicide and again to attend his mother's funeral and her Chehlum.

During this incarceration of over eight years, more than a dozen cases, mostly of murder and corruption, were registered against Asif Zardari. Not a single case of corruption was proven against him. However, to ensure his continued imprisonment, he was charged with a fresh case as soon as he was either acquitted or granted bail in one. The BMW case, in which he was granted bail, was the last one filed against him - two days after he was granted bail in the earlier cases. However, he was kept behind bars for those two days as well, despite having been granted bail.

First major task before Qaim

 

[mujahideen]

PML to field candidates in bye-polls: Elahi

ISLAMABAD: Central leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Saturday that his party would field candidates in every constituency in the upcoming bye-election.

Talking to the newly-elected MPAs of the PML from Rawalpindi, the former chief minister Punjab directed the party leaders to launch campaigns of the party candidates for the upcoming bye-election.

"The PML has to play a positive role as the opposition and we have to highlight the issues being faced by the general public," the PML leader said.

Urging the MPAs-elect to stay united, Elahi said the future of the PML was bright and promising, adding the new coalition partners, PPP and PML-N, had many contradictions within their ranks and they would never be able to serve the public interest.

The PML worked for the inception of Pakistan and it would carry on its struggle for national development process.

"Even sitting on the opposition benches, we would keep playing our role for the national prosperity," he added.

PML to field candidates in bye-polls: Elahi

 

[mujahideen]

US asked to support Asif-Nawaz coalition

By Masood Haider

NEW YORK, March 15: A leading US newspaper on Saturday asked Washington to support, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif “as they try to set their country on a new course”.

“They do not have a lot of time to get it right. Every suicide bombing is a reminder of the extremists’ strength and how determined they are to see democracy fail”, said the New York Times in a editorial, “Leaving Musharraf Behind”.

The Times said: “Assuming the agreement (between Zardari and Sharif) holds, “the new Parliament, would reinstate the Supreme Court judges whom President Pervez Musharraf fired last year in a desperate bid to hold on to power.”

“Once reinstated, the Supreme Court is likely to do exactly what Mr Musharraf feared: invalidate his re-election. Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif also agreed to pass legislation stripping the former army chief of the power to dissolve parliament and appoint military leaders,” the newspaper observed.

But the newspaper said: “It must not stop Washington from supporting Mr Zardari, Mr Sharif and other secular moderate leaders who say they want real constitutional democracy and the rule of law. President Bush can prove his commitment to democracy — and real stability — in Pakistan by vastly increasing non-military aid for projects that would strengthen Pakistan’s battered institutions and improve the daily lives of Pakistanis.”

The New York Times warned that “extremists will capitalise on any sign of weakness, and Mr Musharraf and his rivals must make the political transition as free of conflict as possible.”

“As a surge in suicide bombings at tests, this is a dangerous time for Pakistan, which has both nuclear arms and a far too cozy relationship with the Taliban and Al Qaeda. If Mr Musharraf is ousted as a result of Pakistan’s democratic processes, that is Pakistan’s decision. The United States should not interfere,” the newspaper said.

US asked to support Asif-Nawaz coalition -DAWN - Top Stories; March 16, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

Fazl to support PPP-led govt unconditionally

By Ahmed Hassan

ISLAMABAD, March 15: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) has decided to sit on the treasury benches without any pre-condition and the party is unconditionally supporting the new coalition government led by the Pakistan People’s Party.

Talking to a delegation of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists here on Saturday, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the question of power-sharing would be decided by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

“The JUI-F will support the ANP in its effort to change the name of the NWFP,” he said.

Maulana Fazl said he had explained his party’s priorities on national issues and left the matter of his party’s role in the new government to the PPP leader.

He said that some parties had been ‘truly’ defeated in elections while others had won polls by virtue of ‘special arrangements’ under foreign diktat and his party had accepted election results despite serious reservations.

He reiterated that like the country’s foreign policy, the ongoing military operations in the NWFP and Balochistan were being carried out under external pressure. The new government, he said, ought to change the direction of national foreign policy.

“We need to revive our relations with our neighbours because Europe cannot end our isolation,” he said.

Maulana Fazl said international interest in tribal areas had increased manifold and Pakistan army was being used to get influence in those areas.

Advocating complete independence for the media, he said that media houses should be allowed to formulate code of conduct for themselves.

He urged the media to maintain neutrality.

The JUI-F chief said that while the PML-Q had indeed legislated what he called black laws during its tenure, it would now demand free press in the present situation.

He said the new coalition government should resist American pressure on the so-called war on terrorism under which the country was being forced to kill its own people.

Fazl to support PPP-led govt unconditionally -DAWN - Top Stories; March 16, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

MQM decides to join opposition in NA

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, March 15: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement will be part of a Pakistan Muslim League-Q-led combined opposition in the inaugural session of the National Assembly.

Party sources told Dawn on Saturday that a decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of MQM’s coordination committee held simultaneously in London and Karachi on Friday night.

The sources, however, said that no decision had been taken about the party’s future role in the Sindh Assembly.

The sources said that the meeting, which was presided over by convener Dr Imran Farooq, reviewed the political situation with special reference to the March 17 National Assembly session and the election of speaker and deputy speaker.

The MQM’s parliamentary leader-designate in the National Assembly, Dr Farooq Sattar, briefed the coordination committee about details and the outcome of the meeting.

The sources said that all participants unanimously backed the decision to sit with combined opposition parties in the National Assembly. However, the decision about the party’s future role in the Sindh Assembly was deferred till the summoning of its inaugural session.

The meeting discussed differences within the PPP leadership over the nomination for the prime ministerial slot.

The sources said that ‘informal contacts’ of PPP’s senior vice chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim with other political parties came under discussion. The MQM was ready to meet Mr Fahim or any other PPP leader if they contacted the party, the sources said.

Dr Imran Farooq and PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain discussed a strategy for the National Assembly session by telephone.

A source told Dawn that a meeting between Mr Fahim and MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar was expected shortly.

MQM decides to join opposition in NA -DAWN - Top Stories; March 16, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

PPP names Karamatullah for NWFP speaker

Monday, March 17, 2008
By our corespondent

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Sunday announced the nomination of Karamatullah Khan Chagarmati for the slot of the NWFP Assembly Speaker, party sources said. This was decided in a meeting of the elected provincial assembly members of PPP with the party Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari held in Islamabad. Karamatullah won the election from PF-7 by grabbing 7,989 votes against the Awami National Party's candidate Younas Jan.

PPP names Karamatullah for NWFP speaker

 

[mujahideen]

ANP, PML-N in accord on candidates for Senate seats

Afrasayab, Adeel, Sangeen and Jhagra among contenders

Monday, March 17, 2008
By Khalid Kheshgi

PESHAWAR: Two of the coalition partners in the NWFP and the central governments, the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), have almost agreed on fielding their respective candidates for the two vacant seats in the Senate from the Frontier province.

ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan and former NWFP chief minister Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan of the PML-N have submitted their resignations from the upper house of the parliament after being elected to the National Assembly in the February 18 elections. Both of them had got elected to the Senate from the Frontier Assembly on the general seats in February 2003 Senate elections.

The ANP leaders have been avoiding comments on their aspiring candidates for election to the vacant seats. However, ANP Provincial President Afrasayab Khattak and Central Deputy General Secretary Muhammad Adeel are being considered as the strongest contenders for the upper house. Sangeen Wali Khan, the brother of Asfandyar, is also among the expected candidates.

Having sufficient strength in the NWFP Assembly, the ANP would easily retain its seat in the upper house but it would be difficult for the PML-N to reclaim its lone seat from the Frontier province without the support of coalition partners in the NWFP Assembly as the PML-N has eight MPAs-elect in the 124-member house.

The PML-N is likely to field its Central Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra in the upcoming Senate elections, sources said. Besides, they added, the three coalition partners ñ PPP, PML-N and ANP ñ had reached an understanding to extend support in the by-polls on vacated seats to the party whose candidate had won the seat in February 18 polls.

Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, who was elected MPA and MNA from his hometown constituency Abbottabad, told 'The News' that the formula should also be applied to the Senate by-elections amongst the coalition partners. He said the trust and harmony being developed amongst the PPP, the PML-N and the ANP leadership should not be weakened for a seat that would cease to exist after a year. The tenure of Asfandyar Wali Khan and Sardar Mehtab in the Senate is to end in February 2009.

The ANP will now have one seat in the Senate after the resignation of Asfandyar while the PML-N will have none in the upper house from the NWFP quota after the resignation of Sardar Mehtab. Similarly, the PPP has no senator from the NWFP after its MPAs in the previous Frontier Assembly failed to retain the lone technocrat seat of Farhatullah Babar in the 2006 Senate elections.

ANP, PML-N in accord on candidates for Senate seats

 

[mujahideen]

PML-Q still strong in Senate with 56 members in House of 88

Monday, March 17, 2008
By Dilshad Azeem

ISLAMABAD: The oath-taking of the newly elected members of the National Assembly on Monday (today) would leave a total of four Senate seats vacant, creating space for the main coalition partners to bring in their party-fellows in the indirectly-elected House.

Three senators ñ Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)ís Mehtab Abbasi and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) leader Hamidullah Jan Afridi ñ won elections on the general seats in February 18 electoral exercise. They are all set to take oath as MNAs. Another Senator, Sarwar Kakar of the PML-Q, died just after the general election and his seat is already lying vacant and there is no possibility for the Q-League to retain this seat as re-election would be held on single constituency basis, requiring majority vote from the 65-member Balochistan assembly. The six-year Senate term of Asfandyar Wali and Mehtab Abbasi, both from the NWFP, will expire on April 11, 2009. They were elected as MNAs in the general election. The ANP will retain Asfandyar's seat whereas the PML-N may not because of numerical strength in the 124-member NWFP Assembly, the electoral college for the Frontierís senators.

The News contacted PML-N leader Iqbal Zafar Jhagra to know whether Mehtab Abbasi was going to leave the Senate seat and become an MNA under the existing scenario. ìYes, he is taking oath as a member of the National Assembly and will vacate the Senate seat,î he confirmed. As Sarwar Kakar will also complete his term in 2009, the FATA Senator Hamidullah Jan Afridi will vacate his seat and will take oath as MNA while he was to hold his senatorís post till 2012, as he was elected in 2006. The Fata MNAs will have to re-elect a senator on the seat Jan vacated.

The Senate is going to present an interesting scenario in the days to come when the opposition will convert into the treasury, the Q-League-led coalition would have a majority of few members that may also be lost in the due course of time and finally in the April 2009 election of half of the House.

According to the latest party position after the four vacant seats, the PML-Q and its allies in the previous government have 56 members in the Senate and the rest of the parties (still sitting on the opposition benches) have a total of 40. The Senate comprises 88 members from the four provinces; eight from FATA and four from Islamabad. Each province has 14 general seats, four reserved for technocrats and four reserved for women. Likewise, there are two general seats and one each reserved for women and technocrat from Islamabad.

The six-year Senate tenure of Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro, Nisar Ahmad Memon and Yasmin Shah, all from Sindh, will expire in 2009. The term of 20 Q-League senators, including three from Sindh, would expire early next year as eight are from the Punjab, five from Balochistan, two from Islamabad and two from the NWFP.

PML-Q still strong in Senate with 56 members in House of 88

 

[mujahideen]

Pervaiz Ashraf attends assembly sans Mohtarma with heavy heart

ISLAMABAD: Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said that he has come to the assembly today with heavy heart because of the absence of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, however he vowed moving ahead with the agenda of Mohtarma. On his arrival at the Parliament House, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf told the media that Mohtarma agenda would be carried out. Asif Zardari’s attorney Faruque H. Naik said that the resolution relating to the restoration of judges would definitely be presented, as it has been finalized in the Murree Declaration. When quizzed, he said that the People’s Party unanimous candidate for the prime minister would come to the fore.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Sherpao says there wasn’t any harmony with ML-Q in polls

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (Sherpao) Quaid, Aftab Sherpao has said that he had no harmony with the Muslim League-Q during the elections. Followed by taking his oath in the national assembly and inking the roll paper, Aftab Sherpao told the media that his party now was not with any opposition alliance. He further said that he would be playing his role in the national assembly.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Raisani to attend PPP’s meeting with JUI-F

By Our Correspondent

QUETTA, March 16: PPP’s candidate for the post of Balochistan chief minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani has said he will attend a meeting between his party and the JUI-F in Islamabad on Monday for formation of provincial government.

Talking to newsmen at a luncheon hosted by ANP leader Dr Hayatullah Khan, he said that modalities for the formation of the coalition government had been finalised and names of ministers would be announced after the vote of confidence.

The PPP leader demanded to stop the military operation in Balochistan and stressed that all political issues should be settled politically. He said that talks should be held to restore normalcy in the province.

Later, Mohammad Aslam Bhootani, parliamentary leader of the PML-Q’s like-minded group, demanded immediate convening of the Balochistan assembly.

He backed the PPP candidate for the post of chief minister and said he was the parliamentary leader of a majority of legislators of his party and the ‘minority group’ should respect the will of the majority.

Raisani to attend PPP’s meeting with JUI-F -DAWN - Top Stories; March 17, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

People to see different opposition: Pervaiz

OUR STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE - PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said his party would not support any step against damaging democratic institutions, saying time has come for the parties to fulfil their promises they made during their election campaign of lowering down the prices of daily use items.
While talking to mediamen after taking oath in the National Assembly on Monday, he said the PML would sit on opposition benches and would play effective and constructive role for the welfare of the people and prosperity of the country.
He said that the people would witness a different opposition unlike the past oppositions, which used to thump desks, shout slogans, drew salaries besides using foul language and did nothing for the welfare of the masses.
He said the opposition was not a new thing for him as they (PML) were in the opposition in 1974 and later acted as Punjab opposition leader in 90s. He said that he would be the first opposition leader, who prayed that the elected assemblies should complete their tenures. He said that the PML got more popular votes as compared to any other party.
APP ADDS: The parliamentary party leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Q Ch Pervaiz Elahi has announced that MNA-elect Israr Tareen will be the joint candidate of the Opposition parties for the slot of National Assembly Speaker.
Talking to the Press after a joint parliamentary party meeting of the Opposition parties on Monday, Pervaiz said the meeting also ratified the names of candidates of the Opposition parties announced on Sunday.
“Dr Farooq Sattar would be our candidate for the slot of Prime Minister and Israr Tareen would be our joint candidate for the slot of Speaker. Khush Bakht Shujaat would be our candidate for Deputy Speaker.
The meeting has approved the names of Pervaiz Elahi as leader of the Opposition and Haider Abbas Rizvi as Deputy Opposition leader in the National Assembly. This meeting has approved these decisions unanimously,” he said adding that the PML-Q, MQM, PML-F and PPP-Sherpao would sit on Opposition benches in the Lower House of the Parliament.
Pervaiz said the Opposition parties would play a constructive and positive role. “We are going to the parliament with a constructive and positive approach,” he added.
Haider Rizvi told the mediamen that the Opposition parties were upbeat to play a positive and productive role and this Opposition would prove to be an ‘enthusiastic and energetic’ opposition.
Meanwhile, the PML-F has decided to keep a distinctive identity in Opposition in the centre while it would be a part of coalition government in Punjab. Talking to the mediamen here at the Parliament House, the PML-F parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Jehangir Khan Tareen said the PML-F would keep its distinctive identity despite ‘being a part of Opposition’.
“The PML-F took part in the recent polls with a distinctive identity and succeeded. The party has decided to sit in the Opposition in the centre but we are nothing to do with the united Opposition. We would also be a part of the coalition govt in Punjab,” he said adding that his party had nothing to do with the PML.
Tareen, who enjoyed past five years in power with the PML as Minister for Industries and Production, had developed differences with the PML leadership prior to polls and had joined the PML-F along with his brother-in-law Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Mahmood, who won a Punjab Assembly seat from district Rahimyar Khan.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Government will act with responsibility, hopes Shujaat

ISLAMABAD (PPI) - Pakistan Muslim League (Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has expressed the hope that the new government will act responsibly and resolve the problems of the people.
In an interview here Monday, he said if the govt will do good work for the welfare of the people, then the Opposition will support them. To a question about increase in oil prices, Ch Shujaat says the prices have been raised after consulting the major political parties.
Answering a question, he said, if Assembly functions properly,then there will be no need to exercise 58(2)B.
To another question, he said President has no need to take vote of confidence from the new National Assembly

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Fahmida PPP candidate for Speaker

Our Monitoring Desk

Pakistan People's Party has nominated Dr Fahmida Mirza as its candidate for the slot of Speaker National Assembly and Faisal Karim Kundi as candidate for the slot of Deputy Speaker, reported a private TV channel on Monday.
The nomination papers of both the PPP candidates will be submitted today (Tuesday) before 12 noon, the sources said.
Faisal Karim Kundi belongs to NWFP and has defeated Maulana Fazlur Rehman in his constituency on 18 February.
APP adds: Speaker National Assembly Ch Amir Hussain Monday announced to hold the elections for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the new assembly on Wednesday (tomorrow).
The Speaker adjourned the session till Wednesday 1100 hours as he announced to file the nomination papers for the offices of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker till 1200 hours Tuesday.
Ch Amir informed the house that procedure for the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker has been explained in the Rule 9 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business for the National Assembly.
Elections for the offices of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker would be held the same day (Wednesday) after which the house would be prorogued. The National Assembly session would again be summoned for the election of the leader of the house.
The sitting Speaker would conduct the election for the new Speaker and administer oath to the new Speaker, who would then conduct the election for the office of Deputy Speaker and administer oath to him.
Meanwhile, PPP central leader Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah has disclosed that PPP MNA Faisal Karim Kundi would be candidate of the coalition partners for the slot of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
“MNA Faisal Karim Kundi would be our joint candidate for the slot of Deputy Speaker,” said Khurshid Shah while talking to the media outside the chamber of Mian Raza Rabbani, the Opposition leader in the Senate.
When asked who would be the nominee for the top slot, Shah said the announcement would be made by March 20.
“The future Prime Minister would be announced by March 20. There are 4-5 candidates for the top slot and the final decision would be taken after consulting the coalition partners,” he said.
When the former minister was asked did the delay in finalising the name of future premier hint at rifts within coalition partners, Khurshid Shah said the consultation process shows the fact that the coalition partners are adopting a democratic path.
“When you have 3-4 coalition partners, you have to consult each party for taking a final decision. The extended consultation process does not mean that the coalition is facing internal rifts,” he concluded.
Young Kundi, who has been elected to the lower house for the first time, defeated MMA Secretary General Maulana Fazlur Rehman in recent polls from NA-24, DI Khan.