National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain on Thursday said the government has a mandate of five years, adding that any demand for its removal was unconstitutional.
The Speaker gave this ruling as Pakistan Muslim League (N) MNA Tehmina Daultana asked for the removal of the government, which she alleged, was formed through rigged elections, paving the way for a truly democratic set-up.
Treasury members accused the opposition of dragging the military into controversies and strongly defended President Musharraf's policy against extremism and terrorism, as the House continued its debate on presidential address.
In the first sitting, only one MNA from the treasury side, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, could take part in the ongoing debate as much of the time was consumed in points of order and a call attention notice on Wana operation.
Tehmina, addressing the Chair, remarked: "You should also wear a uniform like General Musharraf, being so loyal to him." Reacting to this, the Speaker asked: "Will you also follow suit."
She alleged, owing to wrong policies, the country was facing grave security dangers. The PML-N MNA asked the House that was really Pakistan first in the scheme of things as claimed by General Musharraf?
"If yes, why U-turn on Kashmir issue; why Dr A.Q. Khan being kept in captivity and questioned; and why this sudden friendship with India," she continued.
The Speaker roared who brought the army to Wapda, when Tehmina slammed the military's meddling in the affairs out of its domain.
She called for a free judicial system to ensure justice to all and sundry, questioning, what wrong had Javed Hashmi and Asif Ali Zardari done that they were behind the bars. "Is this justice," she asked.
The MNA laid emphasis on taking all the stakeholders along in devising policies and added that the policies framed under US fear would weaken us further.
In her opening remarks, PML (Q) MNA Mehnaz Rafi paid tributes to Dr A.Q. Khan, saying that only people of his stature could have the magnanimity to admit the wrong.
"Had he not confessed to transfer of nuclear technology abroad, the blame would have been made on the government, endangering the nuclear programme," Mehnaz remarked. Referring to the ongoing operation against terrorist suspects in tribal areas, she said that a terrorist was a terrorist no matter for how long he lived in Pakistan.
She recalled 'how on a telephone call from Clinton, the then prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, rushed to the White House without taking the Parliament or the Cabinet into confidence on withdrawal from Kargil'.
Mehnaz alleged that the opposition lacked confidence to speak on the President's address, as whatever he was doing, was in the national interests. Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) MNA Ejaz Ahmed Jhakrani rejected General Musharraf as an elected President, saying, he became President through a fake referendum.
He claimed his party would have formed the government if the National Assembly session summoned after the elections was not postponed.
The MNA disputed claims of restoration of democracy and making the Parliament sovereign. He flayed the military for its interventions, which started with the imposition of martial law by late Ayub Khan.
Professor Mushtaq Victor from the treasury benches supported the President's speech and the policies he introduced to safeguard the country's interests.
He demanded of the government and opposition to lend their full support to President Musharraf in his efforts to make Pakistan a forward-looking and progressive state.
The MNA recalled the events, which led to the creation of Pakistan, saying, the minorities had played a key role during the Pakistan Movement.
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan came down heavily on the government policies, alleging, these were designed to please the United States.
"The US exploits dictators for the fulfilment of its global agenda and Musharraf is also doing that," he alleged.
Expressing concern over judicial matters, the sportsman turned politician maintained that the country was today in dire need of free and independent judicial system.
In the given scenario, Imran Khan said, there were no prospects of foreign investment, which was key to improvement in the national economy.
He blasted the ongoing operation in tribal belt and feared that it could have very serious repercussions.
Imran Khan lamented that there was no check and balance on President General Musharraf and he was taking decisions on his own while the Parliament is being sidelined.
He said the Parliament and the masses were kept in the dark while taking decisions on Kashmir, nuclear programme and other matters. The PTI chief asked the government what Pakistan had gained by forcing Dr A.Q. Khan to make a televised confession before the nation.
Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) MNA Sahibzada Abu al-Khair Zubair said that under US dictations, Islamic culture was being eliminated from Pakistani society in the name of enlightened moderation.
"No one talked about the nuclear proliferation but our rules, reopening a case for the rollback of nuclear programme," he alleged while criticising Dr Khan's confession.
He said Iraq was attacked after being alleged for having weapons of mass destruction, but the Pakistani rulers themselves were encouraging the US and its allies to take away the nuclear capability.
The MNA from Sindh charged that the country's foreign policy was not home-made, rather it was devised under US direction.
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