New parliament opens in Pakistan

[mujahideen]

Fehmida set to make history as ‘Madam Speaker’

By Asim Yasin

ISLAMABAD: The stage is set for the direct contest for the post of National Assembly speaker on Wednesday between Dr Fehmida Mirza of the PPP and Sardar Israr Tareen, the opposition candidate.

For the post of deputy speaker, the PPP-led alliance nominee, Faisal Karim Kundi, will contest Khusbakht Shujaat of the MQM. As the PPP, PML-N, ANP and JUI-F jointly have more than 229 members in the lower house, Dr Fehmida Mirza will make history by becoming the first female speaker of the National Assembly.

Never before in the history of Pakistan's National Assembly were the words "Madam Speaker" uttered. It will be for the first time that the chair will be addressed as "Madam Speaker", another first added by the PPP to the political lexicon.

Polling for the two posts will take place through secret ballot at 11am Wednesday. Outgoing Speaker of the National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain will announce names of successful candidates.

Fehmida Mirza and Faisal Kareem Kundi submitted their nomination papers before National Assembly secretary Karamat Ali. Both candidates were accompanied by PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar, Farzana Raja, Arbab Muhammad Zahir and others.

Fehmida Mirza's name was proposed by MNAs Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar, Farzana Raja, Arbab Muhammad Zahir, Maulana Qasim and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Kundi's name was proposed by Dr Azra Fazal Pichio, Mehreen Anwar Raja, Abdul Matin Khan and Syed Khurshid Shah.

Israr Tareen and Khushbukht Shujaat also submitted their nomination papers on Tuesday. The prospers and seconders of both candidates were Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Abdul Qadir Khan Zada, Amir Muqam, Dr Donia Aziz, Iqbal Muhammad Ali and Abdul Wasim.

After the scrutiny of nomination papers the National Assembly secretary on Tuesday accepted nomination papers of candidates for the slots of speaker and deputy speaker. Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani, Dr Donia Aziz, Engr Amir Muqam and others were also present.

Dr Fehmida Mirza hails from Badin in Sindh and has been winning elections continuously since 1997. She is wife of Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, a close friend of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. Hailing from an influential political family of Sindh, the 51-year-old Dr Fehmida Mirza has won the National Assembly seat in open electoral contest from Badin in 1997, 2002 and 2008.

Among prominent members of the family are her grandfather Qazi Abdul Qayyum, who was the first Muslim president of Hyderabad Municipality.

Her uncle Qazi Muhammad Akbar was a member of the Provincial Assembly and served as minister of home, finance, public works and information at various times. Dr Mirza's father Qazi Abid started his political career as Chairman Hyderabad Division Council. He later served as Federal Minister for Education, Water and Power, Food and Agriculture and Information. He was also thrice Secretary General of the APNS.

Her brother Qazi Asad has served as APNS secretary-general nine times and also remained the CPNE secretary-general. He was also a PPP MNA and in that capacity served as chairman of the standing committee on information. Her cousin Qazi Aslam has been secretary-general APNS four times.

Her uncle and father-in-law Justice Zafar Hussain Mirza was a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Faisal Karim Kundi hails from Dera Ismail Khan and has defeated JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the recent elections.

"The post requires a woman's tolerance and patience," Dr Fehmida Mirza told the media persons after filing her nomination papers and pledged to be totally non-partisan as custodian of the House, if elected. A medical graduate, Dr Fehmida Mirza is a businesswoman and CEO of her sugar mill in Badin. She runs several welfare projects in her constituency, one of the poorest districts of the country.

Fehmida set to make history as ‘Madam Speaker’

 

[mujahideen]

Opposition to play positive role in NA: Pervaiz Elahi

ISLAMABAD: The leader of the opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has congratulated the new speaker of the house Dr. Fehmida Mirza Wednesday after her election as the presiding officer of the lower house of the parliament. Speaking as the leader of the opposition Pervaiz Elahi assured his full cooperation to the speaker and said the opposition would back all good deeds of the treasury and would oppose government acts and policies, which the opposition would find against the interests of the people. He assured the speaker that the opposition benches would not create unpleasant situations in the house and would protest in a polite way.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Talking numbers

Maqbool Malik

ISLAMABAD - Getting 100 percent of the votes of a parliamentary presence is tough enough in a coalition. But how does yesterday’s 108.7% sound?
It must have been a pretty worrying bit of arithmetic for the presidential camp. The Speaker was elected by 249 votes, a full 20 votes more than the treasury benches’ combined strength of 229 legislators.
This is despite the abstention of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a treasury member. Though the Maulana refused to say Dr Mirza’s gender had anything to do with his decision, it is widely speculated by the rumour mills that it would have had a huge bearing on the decision. He was present, however, for the election of the Deputy Speaker i.e he didn’t vote for the woman but did vote for the guy who defeated him for an NA seat in the elections.
The rumour mills in the lobby and cafeteria were abuzz with the numbers game for the possible presidential impeachment. The joint session of the parliament, the apparent creation of what would appear to be a forward block in the opposition alters the numbers a bit. For the impeachment, a total of 295 legislators are needed from a total of 442. Count the Maulana and the new government has already gotten 250 from the NA alone. The coalition has 41 members in the Senate, which means if they get the elusive forward block’s support, they will have a total of 291 seats, just one short of what they require. Add to this the fact that 13 NA seats are up for bye-elections, which usually favour the sitting government.
And lastly, on the Prime Ministerial front, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar were rumoured to have withdrawn from the race for prized slot, leaving the room for two other Makhdooms from southern Punjab Syed Yousaf Raza Kasuri and Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi to try their luck.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

'By the law'

Afzal Bajwa

ISLAMABAD - First-ever lady Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza during an introductory press conference appeared to be putting a ceiling on highly bullish excitements on her landmark victory as custodian of the lower House with much more than two-thirds majority.
Those who previously had cheered up when the majority parties’ show of power in the capital had fallen short of the two-thirds majority were depressed again. But the Speaker has, obviously, risen above the party politics.
“I would go by the law and Constitution in running the House proceedings and in facilitating legislation,” remained both the opening and the bottom lines of the new Speaker in the House and also during her first media-interaction after taking over from her predecessor Chaudhary Amir Hussain.
Even asked to elaborate what role she could play during the critical transition in achieving pre-requisite harmony within the conflicting organs of the state, she again repeated the same mantra of ‘law’.
Dr Mirza’s tone and tenor was noticeably changed in the press conference as compared to the first impression she gave immediately after getting in the chair. It seemed as if she had gone through a long way from the House to the conference room.
When the lady luck was smiling on the lady Speaker, it was unfortunate if not a ‘conspiracy,’ at all, that the electronic media people clashed with security staff provoking an ill organized walkout from the Press Gallery minutes after she took over.
Presiding over the House proceedings, the new Speaker quite generously ordered to allow entire private TV cameras inside the Parliament House besides an inquiry into the incident. However, during the press conference she was unexpectedly non- committal in saying that media issues would be resolved through the Committee she had appointed including journalists, as well.
Earlier the number of votes won by both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the majority parties’ coalition indicated a new turn in the grand transition politics. Pundits have now started eying at a possible impeachment of President General (r) Pervez Musharraf since the coalition has neared the number required for the purpose in a joint sitting of the Parliament.
The coalition candidates for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker won significantly more than the number their parties’ MNAs, meaning thereby, clearly, that almost a dozen of members have already defected from the so-called combined opposition to form a forward bloc.
Still, the confidants of the President were rather certain in claiming influence over not only the independent MNAs grouped up under Manzoor Wattoo widely considered as member of the presidential camp, but also on the so-called forward blocs. Therefore, they vowed, requesting not to be named, that “the votes for the Speaker never means going against the President. Therefore, impeachment is, like always, easier said than done.”
Wattoo, even on the floor of the House insisted upon the idea, obviously backed by the presidential camp, of forming the national government offering share to all the parliamentary parties. In other words, every party in the government and no opposition in the Parliament, thus impliedly, supporting the President.
The one eighty degree opposite turn was taken by the PML-N. The second largest party’s parliamentary leader Mukhdoom Javed Hashmi rather warned the presidential camp with the enforcement of Article Six (high treason).
However, the PPP, the leading majority party, skillfully, managed to portray a moderate stance on all issues ranging from media to judiciary involving the Presidency. It seems that party leader Asif Ali Zardari is still keeping his all options, from choice for premiership to change in Presidency, as open.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Fahmida vows equitable treatment to MPs

ISLAMABAD (APP): Majority parties candidate for Speaker, Dr Fahmida Mirza Tuesday vowed to ensure an equitable treatment to members National Assembly across the divide. "I would work with sincerity and over and above party affiliation," she told media persons after filing nomination papers for the office of Speaker in the Lower House of the Parliament. "I thank my party and the coalition partner for reposing confidence in me and would do every bit to come up to the expectations of the people of Pakistan," said Fahmida, a seasoned politician and a third time winner as MNA. "Let me assure you, I would take along all political forces in the House," she said as she is going to be the first women Speaker in country's history. She described her nomination as a 'historic decision' and a huge responsibility rested with her by her party and the coalition. To a question, Dr Fahmida Mirza said, she could not be a substitute to late Benazir Bhutto. "Benazir was a great leader and we are treading on the path of our late leader as party workers." When asked if she would resign from the party, she said, the office of the Speaker should be impartial and non-partisan. "For me there would be no government and no opposition. All would be equal for me and I shall work non-partisan." She assured the mediapersons to ensure freedom of media and said, media would work freely and without any bars. She said her election as Speaker would not only promote the image of the country among comity of nations but also make womenfolk more confident. "I would make every effort to ensure smooth proceedings with tolerance and cool mind, I am going to shoulder a huge responsibility and would try to deliver," she added. PPPP, PML-N, ANP and MMA coalition candidate Faisal Karim Kundi also ensured to make collective efforts to resolve masses problems. "Though I am not that experienced but I would try to come to the expectations of the parliamentarians as well as the nation," he said.

The Frontier Post

 

[mujahideen]

13th National Assembly faces imminent challenges F.P. Report

ISLAMANAD: Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency - PILDAT, offers analysis at the inauguration of the 13th National Assembly of Pakistan With the oath-taking of 329 members out of a total of 342, the 13th National Assembly (the popular chamber) of Pakistan began its parliamentary life of maximum 5 years on March 17, 2008. The first session will stand prorogued after it elects a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker on March 19, 2008. The election of the two offices will be held by secret ballot and winner for either position will have to secure the majority of the votes cast. If there are more than two candidates, the winner will have to secure more votes than the aggregate of the votes of the other candidates. If it does not happen, there will be a run off voting after eliminating the candidate polling the least number of votes. The process continues until one of the candidates secures a majority of votes. It is a reflection of the unique nature of the two offices that securing a clear majority of the votes cast is essential to get elected. In a parliamentary democracy, the speaker holds a pivotal position and performance and smooth-running of the house largely depends on the experience, temperament and respect commanded by the Speaker. The Speaker of the National Assembly also officiates as the acting President in case the Senate Chairman, for any reason, can not officiate. The Second session, which may be summoned by the President immediately after the first session is prorogued, will be exclusively reserved to ascertain which one of the Members of the National Assembly commands the confidence of the majority of the members. The member commanding the confidence of the majority of the members shall be invited by the President to be the Prime Minister. Judging by the number of members of the PPPP-led alliance including the PML-N, the ANP and the JUI-F in the Assembly, it is a foregone conclusion that candidates for the positions of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Prime Minister endorsed by the PPPP will win the election in the case of the Speaker and deputy Speaker and command the confidence of the majority in the case of the Prime Minister. Normally Session 2 lasts for just a day. The selection of a candidate for the post of the Prime Minister by the largest parliamentary party seems to be a greater challenge than many anticipated earlier. The difficulties are understandable in view of the fact that the party leader, who dominated the party for the last almost 30 years, was assassinated right in the middle of the election campaign. The party finds itself pitted against crucial challenges at a critical time when it gets the chance to lead the national and at least one provincial government after a gap of almost 12 years. Application of democratic principles can not only help solve problems facing a country, it can be a way forward for the intra-party challenges as well. The Session 3 will be the first regular session after the routine business of electing the top 3 elective office holders is completed. This session may be summoned by the President at the advice of the Prime Minister soon after the second session is prorogued. The session 3 may take up some of the most critical business which sets the direction of the new Government and possibly decide the fate of the Assembly, the President and the political stability in the country. Going by what Pakistan Peoples Party had announced earlier, it is expected that the Assembly will commence the third session by passing a resolution calling upon the United Nations to undertake an independent investigation into the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party, on December 27, 2007 at Rawalpindi. The resolution may carry the symbolic but a great significance as it may be perceived as an expression of no trust in the ability or will, or both, of the state institutions to carry out a credible investigation into the assassination of Ms. Benazir Bhutto. It was another matter for Pakistan Peoples Party to demand an investigation by the UN when it was in the Opposition; it is entirely a new scenario to seek UN investigation when the party heads the ruling coalition and its nominee is the Prime Minister of the country. The same session may see the tabling and possibly the passage of a resolution calling upon the Government to reinstate the Supreme and High Court judges deposed following the 'declaration of the state of emergency' on November 3, 2007 by General Pervez Musharraf in his capacity as the Chief of Army Staff. A bill may also be introduced in the Assembly seeking to validate the extra-constitutional acts of the period of 'Emergency' declared on November 3, 2007 by the then Chief of Army Staff, General Pervez Musharraf. Past precedents suggest that each extra constitutional act including the removal of Nawaz Government by General Musharraf on October 12, 1999 was brought before the next Parliament seeking validation and indemnity by a 2/3rd majority of both the houses. A similar bill, if brought before the 13th National Assemblystands the chance of being defeated unanimously for the first time in the history of the country. The defeat of such a bill may not only mean that all actions following the 'declaration of emergency' of November 3 are pronounced invalid by the Assembly leading also to restoration of the deposed judges but it will also be a powerful step towards establishing the Rule of Law in a country which has seen the abrogation of two constitutions (1956 and 1962) and suspension of the 1973 Constitution thrice (1977, 1999 and 2007). These possible resolutions and the bill are indicators of some of the challenges the 13th National Assembly may be facing in the very early stages of its life. The signals emanating from the Presidency and the post-November 3 Supreme Court point towards a rough ride ahead for the Assembly. On the other hand, a determined bar and citizens' groups want to see no delay in the reinstatement of the deposed judges; certainly not beyond the 30-day deadline set by the two largest coalition parties themselves. The deadline will expire on April 15, 2008. These and the other long-term challenges to establish the primacy and supremacy of the Parliament in the political system of the country will require that the people stand firmly by the Parliament - to give it the strength in the challenges ahead and to convey their feelings to the parliament when needed.

The Frontier Post

 

[mujahideen]

New speaker restores private TV channels in NA

ISLAMABAD: Giving her first observation as the National Assembly Speaker, Dr Fehmida Mirza on Wednesday directed the National Assembly staff to restore cables of private television channels inside the Parliament House. She made the observation when the media persons in the Press Gallery staged a walkout against the reported severing of cables of private TV channels.

New speaker restores private TV channels in NA

 

[mujahideen]

PPP, PML-N working on reforms agenda

Plan to take opposition members on board before initiating accountability cases

By Mazhar Tufail

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party is working with its coalition partners to clip the powers of the Presidency in favour of parliament. It wants to give the financial autonomy to the judiciary as well as to change the mode of appointment of new judges in the apex court on the pattern of hearings in the US parliament.

Well-placed sources told The News that party leaders, including their legal experts Farooq H Naek, Dr Babar Awan, Latif Khosa, Syed Zafar Ali Shah and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had held several meetings to set the parliamentary agenda of reforms called as “Agenda of change for the Pakistani Nation”.

The agenda seeks to create a balance of power between the presidency and the sovereign body representing the mandate of the people in the form of parliament. In the past, an imbalance of power in favour of individual in the presidency has led to dismissal of institutions having the people’s representatives.

The coalition leaders are working out a strategy to rid the government of the officials who are on extension, arguing the right of promotion is blocked by the people, who were reappointed after superannuation.

The coalition leaders have decided to recommend to the parliamentary leaders to remove all persons who were illegally appointed in the government service or those who face charges of nepotism for getting out-of-turn promotions.

According to the deliberations held so far, the coalition leaders have decided to review the much controversial existing accountability system. Plans to monitor the performance of ministers and public office holders are under consideration while keeping the pros and cons of several such steps taken in the past, including those by former prime minister Shaukat Aziz.

An important departure from the past practices is being suggested that the opposition members of the PML-Q and the MQM should be taken on board for consultation before initiating any case of accountability.

 

[mujahideen]

PPP, PML-N seek early NA, PA sessions

By Muhammad Anis

ISLAMABAD: The joint parliamentary meeting of Pakistan People's Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and their coalition partners on Wednesday demanded immediate sessions of provincial assemblies and expressed concern over delay in calling the National Assembly session for election of the prime minister.

PPP Senior Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim who is the centre of controversies and still considers him as candidate for slot of prime minister chaired the meeting. The meeting, held at committee room of Parliament House, was also attended by MNAs belonging to Awami National Party (ANP) and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq moved a resolution which was drafted by party's Central Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal. The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution in which concern was expressed on delay in convening provincial assemblies sessions.

During the meeting, the parliamentarians were directed to start lobbying and establish their contacts with legislators of opposition parties to convince them on would-be coalition government's agenda.

The newly elected parliamentarians were briefed on how to use their votes during elections for slots of prime minister and deputy prime minister. The meeting lasted for nearly half an hour during which a form was also distributed among the members of the Lower House to give their contact numbers.

There were also reports about Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar staging a walkout from the meeting. However, later talking informally to newsmen, he denied reports that he had walked out of the meeting.

Ch Mukhtar said the party was united and he himself also had no differences with any leader including Amin Fahim. To a question, he said the PPP co-chairman had completed process of consultations on future prime minister and an announcement in this regard would be made shortly. "Every member of the National Assembly is eligible to become the prime minister," the PPP leader added.

PPP, PML-N seek early NA, PA sessions

 

[mujahideen]

Political parties pledge to restore supremacy of parliament

By Zulfiqar Ghuman and Muhammad Bilal

ISLAMABAD: Political parties pledged to restore the supremacy of parliament in speeches following the election of Speaker Fehmida Mirza at the National Assembly session on Wednesday.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz acting parliamentary leader Javed Hashmi said the parliament would neither let President Pervez Musharraf get a vote of confidence nor indemnify his November 3 measures.

Hashmi said the defence budget should be debated in parliament before it is approved. “The decisions will now be made neither in Washington nor in the Army House,” he said.

Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians President Makhdoom Amin Fahim said Pakistan was in a transition from dictatorship to democracy, and passing through difficult times because of inflation and deteriorating law and order. “It is our duty to make the country prosper, peaceful and stable,” he said.

Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali said parliament was supreme and the coming generations would have to pay the price if the parliament made wrong decisions at this time. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Fazlur Rehman said all decisions should be made in parliament “rather than in Washington or General Headquarters”.

“We should realise that the parliament now makes the legislation and amends the constitution... And all these decisions reflect the aspirations of the people,” he said. Opposition leader-designate Pervaiz Elahi said the opposition would support the government in strengthening democracy and hoped the assemblies would complete their five-year term. He said the new government should avoid confrontation with other institutions.

Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao chief Aftab Sherpao said his party would support the parliament in upholding the supremacy of the Constitution. Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Dr Farooq Sattar offered “unconditional support” to the new government’s positive measures.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[JK!]

Its all talk no action.

Just a continuation of activities to screw the country over like they've been doing for years.

 

[mujahideen]

Its all talk no action.
Just a continuation of activities to screw the country over like they've been doing for years.

Lets give them a chance. I mean I know it wont work out but lets wait and see. They have made promises which they must fulfill. The PML-N has said roti will be 3 rupees, I am just waiting for that to happen.

 

[mujahideen]

NA session to elect PM on March 24

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly will meet for election of the Leader of the House on March 24, a statement here said. President Musharraf has signed the summary to convene the session of the lower house of the parliament after receiving it from the prime minister secretariat. The president has summoned the National Assembly session for election of the prime minister on March 24 at 4:00 pm, the sources said. The National Assembly has elected its speaker and deputy speaker in its session on Wednesday through secret ballot.


Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Pakistan assembly to elect PM on Monday

By Kamran Haider

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistanis will learn who their next prime minister will be on Monday, when the National Assembly reconvenes to elect the leader of the incoming coalition government.

President Pervez Musharraf, who has few allies left in the assembly after their defeat in an election on Feb. 18, asked the assembly to meet on March 24, spokesman Rashid Qureshi said.

"The president has been pleased to summon the National Assembly to ascertain the member who commands the confidence of the majority of members," Qureshi said.

Musharraf, who came to power as a general in a coup in 1999, appears increasingly isolated, and there is intense speculation over how long the U.S. ally will be able to hold onto power.

The incoming government has pledged to pass a resolution to reinstate Supreme Court judges who Musharraf replaced in November out of fear that they could rule unconstitutional his own re-election by the previous assembly.

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto will lead the coalition, but it has still to name its candidate for the premiership.

It could be a stop-gap prime minister, if Bhutto's widower and political successor Asif Ali Zardari ultimately decides he wants the job himself.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim, a senior aide to Bhutto and Zardari's deputy, had been favourite but his prospects dimmed after Sharif's party objected to his contacts with Musharraf.

Other potential candidates include Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhatar and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. They all hail from the central province of Punjab, whereas the PPP's stronghold is the southern province of Sindh.

Gilani, PPP's vice chairman, spent at least four years in prison on charges of making illegal government appointments. Mukhatar defeated Musharraf's ally Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, chief of Pakistan Muslim League, in the election. While Qureshi is president of PPP in Punjab.

Bhutto's 19-year-old son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has returned to Pakistan and is expected to reveal the party's choice on Monday.

"We have time, so we can announce it either on Monday morning or just before the session," said PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar.

The February election saw the PPP emerging with the most seats in the 342-member National Assembly but not enough to rule alone.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party came second, dealing a crushing defeat to the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League.

Sharif, the leader Musharraf deposed, and Zardari signed an agreement this month to form a coalition with a small regional party and a religious party.

Neither Zardari nor Sharif stood in the election.

There have been growing calls from within the PPP for Zardari to take up the job, but for now he is not eligible as he is not a National Assembly member.

However, he could win a by-election to take his place in the assembly should he want to become prime minister.

© Reuters 2008 All rights reserved

 

[solid snake]

Lets give them a chance. I mean I know it wont work out but lets wait and see. They have made promises which they must fulfill. The PML-N has said roti will be 3 rupees, I am just waiting for that to happen.

How much is a roti at Pakistani tandoors now? When I was in Pak it was Rs 2.