ISLAMABAD, 4 June 2008 — A bill to dissolve the National Security Council was tabled in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, yesterday.
A Pakistan People’s Party lawmaker, Abdul Sattar, submitted the bill in his private capacity.
Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Izhar Amrohvi told Arab News the government had nothing to do with the bill because the issue was included in the constitutional package prepared by the PPP government.
Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-N President Shahbaz Sharif have agreed to constitute a joint committee to review and approve the constitutional package.
PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar has said the constitutional package would be tabled in the National Assembly after the approval of the federal budget.
In another development, former servicemen pledging their support to lawyers demanded impeachment and trial of President Pervez Musharraf.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore yesterday retired Maj. Gen. Shafique Ahmad called for the reinstatement of deposed judges and rejected the constitutional package. He said the plunderers of the country’s wealth were acquitted through the promulgation of the National Reconciliation Ordinance and added that the president had no authority to write off loans. He said military personnel should not be appointed on any civilian post.
According to an adviser to the new government, President Musharraf is reconciled to stepping down before he is hounded out of office. “He is prepared to go and go with dignity,” said the source close to the Pakistan People’s Party leadership.
Candidatures Challenged
Candidatures of Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif and party President Shahbaz Sharif have been challenged in the Lahore High Court. A full bench of the court will start hearing the petitions from today.
Noor Elahi, a rival of Shahbaz Sharif from NA-123 Lahore and Syed Khurram Shah contesting Nawaz Sharif from Bhakkar filed their petitions yesterday.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has declared Shahbaz elected unopposed from Bhakkar. Shahbaz is set to take over as the Punjab chief minister soon.
