Saturday, 25 Apr, 2009 | 05:08 AM PST
Leader of the opposition in Senate Wasim Sajjad proposes to convene all parties’ conference to steer the country out of the crisis.—APP/File
SLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in Senate Wasim Sajjad proposed on Friday that an all parties’ conference be convened to steer the country out of the crisis it was facing in the wake of growing militancy in tribal areas and Balochistan.
Taking part in a debate on the presidential address to a joint session of parliament, he said the government must ensure supremacy of the Constitution and parliament and the writ of the state in Swat, Buner, Shangla and tribal areas at all costs.
‘Where is the Constitution? The government is totally confused on the issue of Swat and other restive areas,’ he said, adding that constitutional amendments should be made in consultation with all political parties and not merely to implement the Charter of Democracy which was an agreement between two parties.
The charter, he said, had many good points but there were certain provisions in it which would be disastrous for the country.
He said the proposal to set up a constitutional court must be dropped. ‘The constitutional court will erode the authority of the Supreme Court and damage the judicial system. It will result in a conflict between the Supreme Court and the constitutional court which is not in the country’s interest. We need to strengthen the Supreme Court and high courts,’ he added.
Mr Sajjad said the industry should be encouraged to meet the economic crisis. ‘Interest rates should be cut further and imports by local manufacturers be made duty-free or at least duty reduced. The industry should be exempted from loadshedding and agro-based industry be given incentives.’
He said that negative aspects of the new US strategy for the region should be taken up with the Obama administration and Pakistan should project its own point of view in the larger national interest.
Mr Sajjad urged the Americans to immediately stop drone attacks because it was not in the interest of either the US or Pakistan. ‘We should ask the US and European states to make clear commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.’
He said that the US and European counties should enhance the capacity of the Pakistan army to deal with the situation and the mandate of US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke be extended to include the Kashmir dispute.
He called for resolving all bilateral issues with India through peaceful means, but said Pakistan should not show undue eagerness to resume the composite dialogue. ‘We should take advantage of the fact that the world can no longer ignore the situation on the Pakistan-Afghan border, which is also linked to the Kashmir dispute,’ he added.
The house unanimously approved a resolution authorising the Senate chairman to fill vacant seats of chairmen of house standing and functional committees. The resolution was moved by Leader of the House Nayyar Bokhari.
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