PML-N leader flays double standards of MMA

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) President in NWFP and former chief minister Pir Sabir Shah has said that opposition has protested over Legal Framework Order (LFO) in parliament as General Pervez Musharraf has completely changed parliamentary system of government in the country.
Addressing a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, he said that elected Prime Minister has been stripped of all powers and concentrated in president, which he termed a great set back for parliamentary democratic system in the country.
Pir Sabir Shah further alleged that LFO has also deprived provinces of the provincial autonomy, which were claiming strengthening the provinces. But, the LFO negated all their claims.
Regarding Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) deal with the government over LFO, he said that the religious alliance and Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) continued struggle against it for one year. But, he said government accepts only demand on age of judges as it was also interested in the extension of their age.
The PML-(N) provincial president of the view that no democratic political party could think of supporting the restoration of Article 58 (2) B in the constitution and nor keeping popular political parties out of the political field of the country.
He said it was personal wish of General Pervez Musharraf to keep Nawaz Sharif out of the national politics.
However, he said that we are not expecting that MMA would present its shoulder to the military ruler to fulfill his agenda. Criticising the government-MMA deal over LFO, he said this decision of MMA has spread wave of concern among people and democratic political parties of the country.
He was of the view that keeping popular leadership out of the country is equal to playing with the integrity of the country.
Bitterly criticising PML-(Q), he termed an official institution established through agencies.
However, he said that we were not expecting this kind of treatment from MMA leadership, which was issuing regular statements in support of the return of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto to the country.