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India-Pakistan

325 newly elected parliamentarians sworn in: A new dawn for Pak democracy

2008-03-18

The democratic process in the country took a fresh start as 325 newly elected members of the new National Assembly (NA) met for their maiden session on Monday, amid controversy over which version of the Constitution (pre- or post-November 3), they were taking oath under. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) member Syed Naveed Qamar, prior to the oath-taking, sought clarification from the chair on whether the members assembled would be administered oath under the 1973 Constitution. Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain said that the newly elected members would take oath under the third Schedule of the 1973 Constitution, which was the same in both constitutions. “Oath in the third schedule is [the] same for the president, the prime minister, chairman Senate, speaker NA, ministers and the members,” he said. However, during the oath-taking, in which the newly elected members pledged to “protect and uphold the Constitution”, members of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) said the words “pre-November 3” twice before the word “Constitution”. Of the 330 members notified to take oath, 325 were present and signed the rolls of members in alphabetical order. Shah Jahan Yousaf was the 326th person to take oath near the end of the day’s session after the Supreme Court vacated a stay against the notification of the results from his constituency, NA-20.

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India-Pakistan

Liberal parties rout mullahs in NWFP : All the King's men, gone!

2008-02-19

President Pervez Musharraf’s political allies, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), appear to have lost their grip over the country’s parliament, with the Pakistan People’s Party-Parliamentarians (PPPP) and the PML-Nawaz (PML-N) overtaking the “bicycle” in the election race. Lion roars again: The PML-N swept Punjab despite low voter turnout in all 35 districts of the province. PML-Q’s Sheikh Rashid lost to PML-N’s Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in NA-55. He also lost to PML-N’s Muhammad Hanif Abbasi in NA-56, according to unofficial results. Shujaat lost to PPPP’s Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar in his hometown of Gujrat and was lagging behind PML-N’s Rana Abdus Sattar in Sialkot. PPPP’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi also won his seat. PPPP’s Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan beat out PML-Q’s Chaudhry Amir Hussain. PML-Q Punjab President Pervaiz Elahi was losing on two NA seats but won a third in Attock. PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, former population welfare minister, lost his seat for NA-62. Other PML-Q bigwigs that lost include Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Sher Afgan Niazi, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Nasir Khan, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Humayun Akhtar Khan, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, Ijazul Haq, Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Daniyal Aziz. Meanwhile, showing that the PML-Q was not completely out, Faisal Saleh Hayat of the party beat PPPP’s Abida Hussain in NA-88. PPPP comes home: The PPPP, based on early results, appears to have overtaken the PML-N and the MQM in Sindh, establishing the party as a force to be reckoned with in its home state. PPPP’s Amin Fahim was one of the big winners in the province. ANP kicks in: The Awami National Party (ANP) took the maximum number of seats based on early poll results, leaving the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in the dust. PML-Q NWFP President Amir Muqam and Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, both ‘King’s men’, won the seats in their respective constituencies. According to unofficial results, Jamiat Ulema-e-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman won in NA-26, but lost NA-24 to Faisal Karim Kundi. Business as usual: Balochistan witnessed a historic low turnout in the parliamentary elections and the early poll results did not show a clear winner in the province, although the PML-Q appeared to be leading.

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India-Pakistan

NA minus MMA denounces extremism

2007-08-02

National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain on Wednesday rescued the treasury from a possible embarrassment by abruptly adjourning the house proceedings, which lacked quorum despite the presence of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the NA. Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao was winding up his speech on law and order with special reference to the Lal Masjid operation when the Muthida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) pointed out the quorum. Sensing the lack of the required quorum, the speaker adjourned the proceedings and asked the minister to complete his speech today (Thursday). Earlier, in a rare consensus in the lower house, NA members across party lines, except the MMA, denounced extremism and called for a national consensus to deal with this growing menace. Expect MMA members, almost all members representing different parties on both sides of the divide called for reforms in the madrassa system and a purge of weapons from society. Mehmood Khan Achakzai, a Baloch nationalist, said taking US threats to strike in Pakistan must be taken seriously and the American government should be given a “rational” answer to the US intelligence reports regarding growing terrorist networks in Pakistan. He also demanded that the speaker convene a joint parliament session and hold an in-camera briefing for the members.

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India-Pakistan

Baloch appointed MMA's leader in NA

2007-08-01

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s deputy parliamentary leader in National Assembly (NA) Liaquat Baloch was made parliamentary leader of the religious parties’ alliance here on Tuesday. NA Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain was notified of Baloch’s appointment following the resignation of MMA parliamentary leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed from the assembly. Riaz Pirzada, who chaired the NA session on Tuesday, read the notification and greeted Baloch to his appointment.

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India-Pakistan

MQM-MMA clash causes ruckus in NA

2007-08-01

The National Assembly on Tuesday witnessed rowdy scenes as Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members exchanged harsh words after MQM Parliamentary Leader Dr Farooq Sattar blamed the religio-political grouping for using the dead of the Lal Masjid operation to serve its political ends. The rumpus later led the MMA MNAs to walk out of the House shouting loud slogans against the MQM. Dr Sattar first accused the religious parties especially Jamaat-e-Islami of opposing the creation of Pakistan and confronting Quaid-e-Azam, and then, blamed the MMA for pitching Lal Masjid clerics and students against the government and later doing politics over their dead bodies. The MMA is using the Lal Masjid issue to gather people’s sympathies for the next elections, he alleged. But, he went on, this is no politics but hypocrisy and a failed bid on the MMA’s part to conceal its government’s poor governance in the Frontier. Sattar’s straight talking was enough to anger the MMA MNAs who got back at the MQM by levelling charges which were expunged from the proceedings by Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain for being un-parliamentary. Led by Liaquat Baloch, the MMA lawmakers later staged a walkout amidst high-pitched sloganeering against the MQM. Earlier, the house continued debating country’s overall security situation especially the Lal Masjid operation and subsequent suicide bombings in Islamabad and NWFP for the second consecutive day. Like the previous day, the MMA criticised Musharraf-Benazir Abu Dhabi meeting for striking a power-sharing deal. Without naming the PPP, Maulana Ghafoor Haidri and Hanif Abbasi said that those trying hard to do a deal with the military dictator were serving no national interest and rather, leading the country to more chaotic circumstances.

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India-Pakistan

NA speaker accepts Qazi's resignation

2007-07-27

National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain on Thursday formally accepted the resignation of MMA President Qazi Hussain Ahmed. "Thanks ever so. Now scram." Qazi’s NA seat in Nowshera has been declared vacant and the assembly secretariat has informed the Election Commission about his resignation. The EC will later announce the schedule for a by-election on the vacant seat.

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India-Pakistan

Separate religion from politics: MP Bhandara

2007-05-01

Members of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal created uproar in the National Assembly on Monday after MP Bhandara, a minority representative of the Pakistan Muslim League, suggested that religion should be kept separate from politics. Mr Bhandara said that in Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of Pakistan, there was no role of religion in politics and terrorism could only be tackled by separating the two. His remarks angered MMA members, who stood on their seats and shouted slogans against Mr Bhandara. NA Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain then switched off Mr Bhandara’s microphone and asked him to sit down, which pacified the MMA members and calmed the situation.

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India-Pakistan

'Those killing innocent women not Muslim'

2007-02-24

"But to the lions nobly carrying out Allan's will on those hussy heifer hobags, hey, Good Job!" The National Assembly on Friday condemned the Bajaur, Damadola and other such incidents in which innocent women were killed, and declared that the perpetrators of these crimes were not Muslims. The condemnation came through a resolution that was passed unanimously and was moved by Ayesha Munawar of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). The resolution also condemned the killing of innocent women in other incidents. Depends on your mufti's definition of innocent, naturally. Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain objected that the house could not decree (fatwa) that someone was Muslim or non-Muslim, but none of the treasury parliamentarians considered the resolution’s wording, passing it unanimously. Through another resolution moved by Federal Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhtiar, the National Assembly condemned the killing of Punjab Minister Zil-e-Huma Usman, and demanded the provincial government take prompt action against the killer through a speedy trial in an anti-terrorism court. The house viewed the killing as “an extreme form of terrorism”, and said there should be no delay in punishing the murderer, as he was caught red-handed. However, Khawaja Asif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said an ordinary court should hear the case. He said the establishment of ATCs during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure was a “wrong step”. “Although anti-terrorism courts were set up during our party’s government, I regret that it was a wrong step. Anyone of us can be a victim of these courts,” said the PML-N MNA.

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India-Pakistan

Bedlam revisits NA over prayers for dead Talibs

2006-11-14

Intense bedlam on Monday revisited the National Assembly because of Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain’s firm stand not to allow prayers for those killed in Dargai and Bajaur Agency. Resultantly, slogans like “Go Musharraf Go, America’s friend is a traitor” followed at a sonorous pitch from MNAs belonging to the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Some Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) members also joined the protest in a low profile. When the MMA MPs insisted on offering “Fateha” for those killed in Bajaur Agency and Dargai, the speaker adjourned the proceedings in a huff for 15 minutes so that order returns. The opening of the proceedings was sombre and smooth as the speaker, according to the out-of-House understanding, permitted opposition MPs to pay glowing tributes to deceased former MNA Abdus Sattar Afghani of Jamaat-e-Islami that he had not permitted on the first day of the session. After commending Afghani’s services, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed started offering “Fateha” for him and others. As he mentioned in his “Dua” those killed in Dargai and Bajaur, Chaudhry Amir cut him short, switching off his mike and gave the floor to another MMA MP, Qazi Gul Rehman. Hafiz Hussain asked his colleague to continue “Fateha” that he did, and at the end, he also mentioned those who fell victim in the Bajaur Agency airstrike. The speaker abruptly deferred the sitting for 15 minutes and retired to his chamber. The MMA MPs gathered before his rostrum in his absence and chanted slogans for 20 minutes. Chief whip Nasrullah Dareshak tried to pacify the agitators but none paid any heed to his meek efforts. When the speaker returned to the House after the interlude, he deeply regretted the protesters’ attitude and approach and said it disgraced and humiliated the House. It was against the rules, he said.

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India-Pakistan

PM Aziz Wins Trust Vote in Parliament

2006-08-30

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz outnumbered the opposition as the no confidence motion against him was defeated. One hundred and thirtysix members voted in favor of the motion whereas it needed 172 to oust Shaukat Aziz. Aziz made a brief comment, saying, “... today’s no confidence motion and my victory will strengthen democracy...” “today’s no confidence motion and my victory will strengthen democracy”. As the opposition legislators finished their speeches during the debate on the motion, Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain gave the floor to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to defend himself. In his speech he said, “I am a born Pakistani and I studied in Pakistan. I never retained any foreign nationality.” He said when in 1999 Gen. Musharraf took over, Pakistan was about to be declared a failed state. “We worked hard to strengthen Pakistan’s economy. We gave a new look to the country’s economy,” he added. "Now it's a failed state with a crutch!" He said, “I have listened to all the speeches of the opposition speakers and this reflects that democracy was working in Pakistan in a vibrant manner.” "Vibrant" appears to be a synonym for "goofy" in Urdu. The fractious opposition united last week to lodge the motion against Aziz, accusing him of neglecting the poor and of corruption, but opposition politicians launched the debate yesterday with criticism of the military’s involvement in politics. “Pervez Musharraf and military intervention in politics is the root of the evils plaguing Pakistan,” Qazi Hussain Ahmed, leader of an alliance of six religious parties, told the Parliament. The target was Perv, of course, not Aziz, who's a nobody.

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India-Pakistan

No bodyguards on parliament premises, speaker warns MNAs

2006-08-26

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain on Friday warned ministers and MNAs not to bring their private guards on Parliament House premises. "I think they (the ministers and MNAs) will act upon the rules. If not, they know what can be done under the rules," he said after MNA Riaz Hussain Pirzada raised the issue. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi also favoured banning the entry of private guards and weapons on Parliament House premises. Pirzada said that a large number of private guards of MNAs and ministers gave the impression that everyone in Pakistan was scared of terrorism. "What impression will this have on foreigners? Moreover, the guards often misbehave with other MNAs, breaching their privileges," he said, adding that the private gunmen also breached parliamentary privileges. Pirzada said that the MNAs and ministers should ask Islamabad police for security. "Let Islamabad be a safe haven," he said while criticising the provincial chief ministers for bringing personal guards on Parliament House premises." Dr Niazi asked the NA speaker to issue directions for arresting private guards who moved on Parliament House premises with weapons.

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India-Pakistan

Opp protests against Hafiz Saeed's detention

2006-08-25

Opposition members in the National Assembly protested on Thursday against the detention of Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and relatives of Baloch nationalists, and asked why they had been detained without cause. On a point of order, the MMA's Liaquat Baloch said Hafiz Saeed is a known personality and the government should explain the reason for his arrest. Maybe because he's a known personality? The BNP's Abdul Rauf Mengal said that brothers of senators Sanaullah Baloch and Shahid Bugti were in detention. He also protested the alleged arrests of his party members by intelligence agencies and termed it a violation of human rights. NA Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain rejected Mengal's adjournment motion about the arrest of Senator Sanaullah Baloch's brothers and said that the Senate had already discussed the issue.

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