The Hindu : Session put off on request: Musharraf

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 07, 2002

International

International

Session put off on request: Musharraf

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Nov. 6. For the first time since the first general elections in 1970, the inaugural session of the National Assembly in Pakistan, scheduled for November 8, stands postponed.

The announcement to postpone the session was made by the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, at the weekly Cabinet meeting. Gen. Musharraf informed his Cabinet that the action was in response to the request made by "certain political leaders" to facilitate the ongoing consultations and discussions among them for the formation of an elected government.

While the state-run television and radio announced that the session had been put off by a week and a fresh date for convening of the Assembly would be announced soon, Gen. Musharraf has been quoted as telling his Cabinet colleagues that the Government was in favour of an early session.

Pro-Musharraf parties on Tuesday night had petitioned the Government to delay the inaugural session of the National Assembly. Their petition was seen as a sign of panic at the prospect of the parties opposed to the policies of the Musharraf regime seizing power.

The representation seeking postponement of the Assembly session coincided with an agreement between the alliance of religious parties and the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on a common candidate for Prime Ministership and Speaker. They had promised to announce details of the agreement today but strangely, the announcement never materialised.

Though pro-Musharraf parties made the petitions for postponement of the session, there is little doubt that the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is not unhappy over the development despite all the protestations. Indications are that the party is not happy over the prospect of the alliance of religious parties being at the helm of affairs. The PPP has serious differences with the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) over foreign policy issues.

Interestingly, just before the official announcement on the postponement of the Assembly session, the PPP announced the postponement of the meeting of the parliamentary party, which was scheduled for tomorrow. A press statement by the party said that the new date would be announced later.

The Cabinet, chaired by Gen. Musharraf, decided to defer the restructuring of the Federal and Provincial Services for consideration by the new Government as the decision would have far reaching administrative and financial implications having a direct bearing on the entire governance system.

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Session put off on request: Musharraf