Pakistan Muslim League Secretary General Mushahid Hussain has said that strong and autonomous provinces are necessary for a strong Pakistan. In an interview with a private TV channel, he said that credit goes to the present government to take up the issue of provincial autonomy. About the 18th Amendment, he said that consensus would be built on it.
He said that there were three issues pertaining to provincial autonomy: constitutional amendment, framing of laws, and deals with the administrative measures.
Elaborating, he said that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and National Economic Council (NEC) only exist on paper as no rules and regulations have been set for the meetings of these bodies. "We want the issue of provincial autonomy to be resolved through negotiations," he added.
In reply to a question about the committee on the provincial autonomy, the PML Secretary General said it is completely an independent body which would present its report on the issue to the Parliament and then the Parliament would decide about it.
About his meeting with late Akbar Bugti, Mushahid said that the meeting was held on the problems relating to Dera Bugti, and the nature of negotiation was also different. The issue of provincial autonomy had not been discussed there.
Mushahid said, "We must all sit together and set the rules of the games once and for all. He said that PPP talks about the 'Charter of Democracy', but behind the curtain it is busy striking a deal with General Musharraf.
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