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Ruling alliance MNAs demand trial of Musharraf, Opposition calls for burying the past

By admin | August 19, 2008

Legislators from the Treasury Benches on Tuesday demanded for trial of the former President Pervez Musharraf as National Assembly on Tuesday continued debate on his resignation as President on August 18 while the opposition MNAs said the country should move forward by burying the past.

Discussing the resignation of former President Pervez Musharraf, MNA Akram Masih Gill said he appreciate Pervez Musharraf’s decision to safeguard rights of women and minorities.

“The women elected against reserved seats are sitting here due to Pervez Musharraf. He safeguarded minorities rights.

Gill said he was happy to support Pervez Musharraf and “I salute him for his good decisions.”

Rejecting the criticism of treasury benches and their demand for accountability of Pervez Musharraf, he said, “first undo the NRO and then hold impartial accountability. The nation would come to know who is corrupt to what extent.”

He said Pervez Musharraf fulfilled his promises either to holding 2002 elections or shedding the uniform. “Finally he also resigned in national interest.”

MNA Kamran Khan described Pervez Musharraf’s resignation as victory of the nation and democracy. “Had Pervez Musharraf been well wisher of the nation, he might have resigned on February 19 after his party had lost polls.”

He said Pervez Musharraf, in his speech, did not mention FATA operation, Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa killing of innocent people and house arrest of Dr. Qadeer Khan.

He appreciated the speech of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who had stated, he had forgotten injustices done to him.

“It is tendency of democratic people that after coming to power, they demonstrate broadness,” he said.

He said the masses mandate demands that Parliament should be supreme and we all need to express unity and harmony in view of prevailing circumstances.
Initiating the debate for the day Sahibzada Fazal Karim said that history has been created on August 18 when the country was rid of a dictator.He demanded that Pervez Musharraf should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution.He was of the opinion that during Musharraf era economy of the country suffered badly.He further said that Musharraf destroyed all institutions in the country and even did not spare the superior judiciary.He called for abolishment of Article 58-2 (b) of the Constitution.

Jamshed Dasti said that during Musharraf era the Country’s image was lowered.He called for trail of Pervez Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution.

He asked the companions of the former president to repent for their support to illegal steps taken by him during his rule.

Dr Donia Aziz said that President Musharraf left with grace and dignity and behaved like a statesman.She further said that the former president wants Pakistan to move forward by burying the past.

Dr Donia Aziz said “ we should move forward and should not indulge in politics of vendetta.”

Taking part in debate, Sheikh Aftab said it is the dilemma in the country that some elements conspire against the elected government but protect the undemocratic rulers.

He said the mystery behind the murder of Father of the Nation Quaid-e Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Nawab Liquat Ali Khan and Benazir Bhutto are yet to be unearthed.

Aftab said Ayub Khan founded the martial law rule in the country, adding that if any of the martial law administrators had been convicted, no one else would have dared to breach the Constitution.

He said Pervez Musharraf had made the people insecure in their own country, handed over airbases to the United States and killed several innocent people in tribal areas and Lal Masjid.

PML-Q MNA, Attiya Inayatullah hailed the speech of Prime Minister on Monday in the House, in which he called for joint efforts against dictatorship.

She recalled the positive steps by Pervez Musharraf including emancipation of women, freedom of media and strengthening local government system.

She said the coalition partners should do politics of public interest, reinstate deposed judges within 24 hours and elect new president sans 58/2 B.

Mahmood Hayat Khan Tochi said no one in the country is ready to give indemnity to Pervez Musharraf, who killed hundreds of innocent people in the name of war against terrorism.

He said Pervez Musharraf should be trialled under Article 6 of the Constitution so that no one in future should dare to breach Constitution and put the national security at stake.

PML-Q MNA Ghaus Bux Maher taking part in the debate said the House needed to look forward instead of wasting time on discussing policies of Pervez Musharraf.

“We should now think as to how we could improve law and order, tackle situation in Waziristan, Swat, Bajour, Balochistan, overcome load-shedding and price-hike,” he said.

Maher said since the government described Pervez Musharraf as main hurdle in restoration of judiciary, which is no more now, then it should restore judges. “It was of no use to cry over bygone issues.”

Sharing thoughts on the occasion, MNA Maulana Asmatullah called for immediate ending of military offensives launched during Musharraf’s regime in FATA, Swat and Balochistan. “It’s high time for us to discontinue his (Musharraf) policies.”

Maulana Asmatullah expressed disappointments that Islamic system could not be established in the country even after sixty years of its creation.

PML-N MNA Haji Pervez Khan said Opposition needed not to worry about restoration of judges, saying, “it’s our subject and would restore the judges just like we forced the President to resign.”

He said those (politicians) who stood by Pervez Musharraf and supported whatever he had been doing during his reign should leave with him.

Pervez Khan said safe passage must not be given to Pervez Musharraf as due to his policies close allies parted ways and war in Afghanistan shifted to Pakistan.

He said the concept of enlightened-moderation propounded by Pervez Musharraf earned disrepute for Islam.
Mian Javed Latif opposed the provision of safe exit to Pervez Musharraf, stating that he killed several innocent people and sent Mian Nawaz Sharif into exile.

He said there should be an equal system for every one regardless of one’s stature or influence and added that it is the only way to help institutions work independently.

Engineer Shaukatullah described the tenure of Pervez Musharraf as the worst dictatorship in the history. He said the previous government deceived the nation by portraying wrong figures regarding the national economy, while factually the things are contrary to their claims.

He also called for discontinuing the policies of previous government.

The parliamentarian also criticized insufficient relief efforts for the displaced people of Bajaur during ongoing action against militants.

Engineer Khurram Dastgir said it is for the first time that the Parliament has demonstrated its power.

“We have been conquered again and again by the establishment but after August 18, we would never be conquered again,” he said.

He said Pervez Musharraf made the national economy hostage to international monetary agencies.

Dastgir said if Pervez Musharraf is given indemnity, the Parliament should force him to at least admit his wrong steps, like the Truth Commission in South Africa.

Riaz Fatyana urged the coalition partners not to indulge in blame game rather take steps to reinstate deposed judges, elect new president and get rid of inflation.

He said the government should devise policies to help resolve public issues and offered positive cooperation of the opposition for the betterment of the people.

MNA Muhammad Usman Advocate said Baloch people were deprived of their

social, political and economic rights during the reign of Pervez Musharraf.

Balochs were subjected to torture and extra-judicial killings in which many

leaders including Nawab Akbar Bugti and Balaj Marri lost lives.

“He (Musharraf) set Balochistan on fire where hundreds of Baloch youth are

still missing,” he said.

Muhammad Usman said it was shocking to learn that Baloch people had lost hope on the institutions and were not taking interest in State’s affairs owing to the excesses done in Musharraf’s tenure.

He said it was responsibility of the Parliament to now ensure true provincial autonomy and give full legislation rights to the provinces. “Parliament must also respect legislation done by the provinces.”

MNA Khalida Mansoor said Pervez Musharraf was not an individual rather he

was a ‘doctrine’ that prevailed upon the nation for eight years and multiplied trouble for the people.

She said it had been proved that people had disapproved dictatorship and approved democracy.

She said restoration of judges was included in their duty. She opined the name of country’s renowned nuclear scientist Dr. Qadeer Khan for the next President.

Taking part in the debate Bushra Rehman said that Pervez Musharraf fulfilled his promises for holding fair elections. She thought that he quit presidency with grace. She asked the ruling coalition to focus on governance and try to solve people’s problems.

Dr Darshan said that resignation of Musharraf was a great victory of the democratic forces. He congratulated the leaders of coalition parties. He was of the opinion that the former president should be tried for violating the Constitution so that in future no body could violate it.

Raza Hayat Harraj said that in the recent past Pervez Musharraf was blamed for

all evils in the country but now there is no scapegoat for the rulers. He said

that instead of celebrating, the government should try to deliver as the country

could not afford failure of the present democratic set up.

He advised politicians to stop mudslinging against each other as it defames all politicians in the eyes of the general public.

Topics: Pakistan News |