‘PML-Q to boycott assemblies, Senate’
Terming the attack on Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim in Sindh Assembly as an act of “state terrorism”, Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has demanded of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to accept the responsibility of the incident and seek “unconditional apology” over it.
“PML-Q will boycott the proceedings of all provincial and national assemblies as well as the Senate unless those responsible for attacking Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim accept the responsibility and unconditionally apologise on the incident” he told a news conference at Arbab’s residence in Karachi.
Arbab Ghulam Rahim, former federal ministers Nisar Memon, Muhammad Ali Durrani, Ghous Bux Mahar and other PML-Q leaders were also present on the occasion.
Chaudhry Shujaat said the PML-Q wanted continuation of the national reconciliation process initiated by Asif Ali Zardari but it was sabotaged in the Sindh Assembly when former Sindh CM was beaten with shoes and thrashed by the so-called democrats.
He said his party gave vote of thanks to the prime minister under the same spirit as they didn’t want one-party rule in the country but that goodwill move was not paid in the same coins.
Instead, cases are being registered against PML-Q leaders and workers in Sindh while leaders are being humiliated and beaten in the assemblies, which is a highly condemnable and shameful act, he added.
The PML-Q leader said the former Punjab CM Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi also sent a message to Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim that the PML-Q would boycott the proceedings of the Punjab Assembly unless the perpetrators of attack on Arbab are not identified.
Shujaat said his party didn’t want law and order situation or spread anarchy in the country and added that they won’t ask their workers to take to streets.
He also condemned the incident in which female MPAs of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement were misbehaved and said he discussed the issue with MQM leadership on Tuesday, who assured that they will continue boycott of Sindh Assembly until the issue is resolved as per their expectations.
To a query, he said the PML-Q will not register any case on what happened with Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, saying what was shown on the TV channels was “our case and FIR”.
He told another questioner that he met chief of PML-Functional Pir Pagaro, Muttahida leadership at “Nine Zero” and other allies and they all assured their support to the PML-Q over the incident.
Responding to a question, he said the attack on Arbab was not accidental but a pre-planned incident. He also rejected claims that the caretaker government was responsible for it, saying people in control of the Sindh Assembly were the perpetrators of the heinous act.
Arbab told another questioner that they accept their past mistakes and want continuation of reconciliation process in the country but said incidents like attack on former chief ministers were not good for the democracy.
Meanwhile, Shujaat on Tuesday said whether one tries to form a joint opposition or not the prevailing circumstances will automatically lead to the emergence of a combined opposition.
He said this at a press conference during a visit to Nine Zero Azizabad in the afternoon where he arrived to thank the MQM leaders for extending support to ex-Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim in the Sindh Assembly.
He was asked whether he was making efforts to make a joint opposition.
Present on the occasion included a delegation of PML-Q comprising ex-Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Nisar Memon, and former information minister Mohammed Ali Durrani.
MQM leaders Dr Farooq Sattar, deputy convener MQM Rabita Committee, Babar Ghauri, Faisal Sabzwari, Shoaib Bukhari and others were also present.
Dr Farooq Sattar demanded that the PPP should admit the responsibility of the “shameful” act against Arbab Ghulam Rahim and expose the names of those who indulged this act of terrorism. They should be arrested and awarded exemplary punishment, he said.
He said the MQM investigation cell was fully aware of the names that carried out this “shameful” act directly or behind the scene.
He said the PPP should first take the initiative and admit the responsibility of manhandling Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim during the last two days.
When asked if the PPP does not accept the demand, Sattar said they would disclose future line of action later.
He lashed out at PPP workers and leaders for teasing MQM women legislators. They were subjected to search while labelling them as terrorists and their cars were also searched, he said.
Shujaat said we had earlier apprised the MQM that they should remain with us and had the MQM been with us then this ugly incident would have never happened.
He lauded the action taken by the MQM over the manhandling of Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and said usually parties in coalition do not react in such a manner. “It is state terrorism.”
He said this incident has nothing to do with the emotions of PPP workers and this all happened before the PPP MPAs.
Dr Arbab said he was thankful to friends for extending all-out support to him in the Sindh Assembly and demanded of Nawaz Sharif to condemn this incident as he has signed Charter of Democracy in London and it was for all political parties. He said why he is silent over this incident and he should announce his condemnation as every political party has condemned the incident.
Referring to the shoe he said it was a shoe-lashing of democracy.
Dr Arbab said before even coming to power the PPP has started harassing its opponents and false cases are being registered against the people and raids are being conducted by the police. He said now whole police machinery was working on the directives of PPP.
Shujaat, Arbab and Durrani arrived in a black Mercedes at Nine Zero and were welcomed by Dr Farooq Sattar. The MQM workers chanted slogans in favour of Shujaat and the PML-Q.
Source: The News
Date:4/9/2008
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
