Back with not a bang but a whimper: Opposition adamant over no-confidence move against CM

Does not touch upon requisitioning a session; instead gives PTI another performance review.

PESHAWAR:

The opposition will not withdraw the no-confidence motion it submitted in August against Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman.

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader was addressing the media following a meeting at the assembly secretariat on Friday. The opposition parties finally broke their silence and attempted to lash out at K-P’s ruling party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has been protesting in Islamabad since mid-August.

However, the outburst contained little that can be a cause of concern for PTI as the opposition shied away from requisitioning an assembly session or announcing protests against its government.

Sticking to their guns

Rehman told reporters the opposition was devising a strategy for its no-confidence motion and will not be withdrawing it.

The opposition leader claimed the opposition wasn’t calling for a K-P Assembly session because a joint session of Parliament is under way in the federal capital. Though he did not elaborate why, it would seem everyone is waiting for the curtains to come down on the drama in Islamabad. On Thursday, three PTI MNAs failed to show up for a meeting with the National Assembly speaker to verify their resignations. Around 26 PTI MNAs have to verify their final notices.

Rehman was flanked by Quami Watan Pary parliamentary leader Sikandar Sherpao, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha, Awami National Party’s Syed Jaffer Shah, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sardar Hussain and other members of opposition parties.

In an attempt to dispel the impression that the opposition was a friendly one, JUI-F’s Rehman said they submitted the no-confidence motion for the sake of democracy. “If the CM had dissolved the assembly, it would have been undemocratic.”

Taking to task

“PTI’s Islamabad sit-in is calling for dictatorship in the garb of democracy,” said Rehman.

The JUI-F leader added the protesters attacked the Parliament House, Pakistan Television office and other media channels in attempts to derail the country’s democratic system. “The protesters violated the Parliament’s sanctity,” said Rehman.

Terming the sit-in an attempt to sabotage peace, Rehman said change does not mean abolishing the existing system but making relevant amendments to improve the system.

The opposition leader criticised PTI Chairman Imran Khan for using “abusive language and levelling baseless allegations” against everyone who does not agree with him.  In response, all political forces in the country have reiterated their support for democracy, added Rehman.

Another performance review

After the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led federal government issued a white paper on Thursday, slating the PTI’s performance in K-P, the JUI-F leader also joined the fray.

Rehman maintained PTI had made tall claims to restore peace, introduce a uniform curriculum and address the issues of displaced people.

“Everyone can see the government’s performance since it came into power,” claimed Rehman, listing PTI’s failings.

“It miserably failed in improving law and order, while target killings and the crime rate in general has increased.”

He added soon after the provincial government took over, it announced an education emergency in K-P but has not taken any concrete steps to address it since then.

“Around Rs83 billion of last year’s Annual Development Programme lapsed due to the incompetency of the provincial government and the same is likely to happen this year,” claimed Rehman.

The MPA also accused the PTI-led government of using the province’s resources for the sit-in. He said PTI ministers only attend office for two hours daily and spend the rest of the day in Islamabad instead of running their departments. Rehman alleged development funds for opposition members had not been released even though money had been released for members of the treasury bench.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2014.