ISLAMABAD, 30 April — The Pakistan Muslim League faction led by Mian Azhar yesterday demanded restoration of assemblies. “We do not endorse politics of agitation, but the detention of political leaders in Karachi deserves condemnation as they have been denied the right to speak their mind,” said PML Information Secretary Syeda Abida Hussain.
Speaking at a press conference a day before the first PML central working committee meeting after party elections, Abida said if the government started talks with politicians it would be a welcome step. She said the government should consider returning the reigns of the country to a civilian setup.
Elaborating why the PML was insisting on the restoration of assemblies, Abida said the assemblies were dissolved on all previous occasions when the army intervened but this time the assemblies are intact, they have only been suspended.
To a question, Abida said the Supreme Court has given the military three years to complete its agenda, but the army government has no right to amke amendments to the constitution.
Responding to a question on water crisis Abida regretted that such provincisal issues should have been tackled by the Senate —Upper House — which had equal representation from the provinces but the members of the Senate did little to alleviate the suffering of the people. She said the water crisi was the root cause of backwardness. “If we can overcome the water crisis we can boost out agricultural production, ” she said.
Abida said the forthcoming PML meeting will take up a four-point agenda — party matters, issues relating to local government elections, law and order situation and the future course to be adopted by the PML. The breakaway PML faction which Mian Azhar heads tacitly supports the military government and has so far refrained from joining hands with the main opposition alliance in calling for the restoration of democracy.
