Nisar hits out at government on CEC, DG ISI extension

Says the Opposition would resist the government's attempts to make the National Assembly a rubber stamp.

LAHORE: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Chaudhry  Nisar Ali Khan alleged that the current Chief Election Commissioner had been appointed on on the wishes of the President, while the extension to DG Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) will be opposed.

Speaking at a press conference at the Punjab Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Nisar termed the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner a purely personal desire of President Asif Ali Zardari. He alleged that 28 illegal elections were held during the tenure of the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner for which the National Assembly had to pass a constitutional amendment. Nisar continued that the CEC had now given a verdict in favour of Waheda Shah, which is deplorable.

He added that time has come that PML-N and other opposition parties should evolve joint strategy in and outside the National Assembly and Senate for getting rid of present rulers.

Extension to DG ISI to be opposed

Nisar Ali Khan said that it was clear that the President Asif Ali Zardari wanted to influence the Memo case in Supreme Court by giving an extension to DG ISI Lt General Shuja Pasha.

He said that negligence was shown by the intelligence organisation on nuclear and other national issues, hence there was no justification for an extension. If one were to come to pass, the PML-N, along with other opposition parties would decide a strategy.

He claimed that the issue will not be resolved through a compromise (muk muka) and forewarned that the administrative issue of extension in service of DG ISI could become a political and judicial issue.

National Assembly will not be made a rubberstamp

Hinting that decisions are made elsewhere, Nisar Ali Khan said that the statement of Foreign Minister that opening of NATO supply will be decided in the National Assembly, was incorrect. He warned that if any effort was made to use the parliament as a rubber stamp, the PML-N will strongly resist.

He lamented that a u-turns were being taken after issuing policy statements on the general elections and other matters from the office of the Prime Minister. He said that government did not seem serious in keeping its promise on staging general elections in September or October, 2012.

Ch. Nisar Ali Khan, criticised the behaviour of Peoples Party member Waheeda Shah and remarked that the Party should have elicited a resignation if one was not forthcoming from the banned politician.

Replying to a question, Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said that PML-N has given requisition for convening National Assembly session from March 12 for meaningful discussions over the recovery of missing persons, setting up of an eight-member National Assembly Monitoring Committee and submitting a detailed report within two months.

He said that the issue of missing persons was very sensitive and a serious human rights issue which has already been delayed considerably.

Replying to another question, he said that present government had the golden chance over the past four years to solve the Balochistan’s problems, but nothing was done. Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said that he had also declared that the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package was not the solution of Balochistan.

Nisar also dismissed the All Parties Conference, terming it unwise. Calling the APC the Opposition’s prerogative, he said the government takes decisive steps but the present government seemed indifferent.