MNAs grill Musharraf for November 3 acts

ISLAMABAD Terming November 3, 2007 imposition of emergency by former Army Chief Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf as Black Day, MNAs from both treasury and opposition benches Tuesday pledged to continue struggle for the supremacy of Parliament and strengthening of democratic institutions.
Wearing black bands around their arms, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) lawmakers were of the view that supremacy of the Parliament would remain shaky unless Musharraf was tried under Article 6 for abrogating the Constitution of the country.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and PPP MPs were also wearing black armbands, while lawmakers from PML(Q) and MQM, one of PPPs coalition partners, didnt join them.
Later MPs belonging to PML(N), PPP, Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam staged walkout from the Parliament and marched up to Supreme Court of Pakistan to register their protest against imposition of November 3, 2007 emergency by Musharraf.
PML(Q) and MQM stayed away from the protest. The main show was that of PML(N) and other opposition parties. Participation from the PPP was token, as a couple of Federal Ministers Dr. Babar Awan and Syed Khurshid Shah joined the protest rally.
The participants of the rally were of the view that it was the responsibility of all political forces to join hands to block the way of any adventurism in future, besides working for strengthening state institutions. They said sovereignty of the Parliament could guarantee a strong and sustainable democracy in the country. Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khurshid Shah told the National Assembly that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had laid down her life for restoration of democracy and protection of rights of the masses.
He said Benazir and other leaders had also faced exile but they did not bow to the wishes and whims of the dictator and finally succeeded in restoring democracy and removing the dictator.
He appealed to all political forces to make a pledge to work with unity for sustainable democracy and a strong Pakistan.
Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, condemning November 3 2007 action by the dictator, paid glowing tributes to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and all those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of democracy. He called upon the government to implement Charter of Democracy (CoD) that would be a great homage to Shaheed Benazir. He urged the government to initiate trial against former President under Article-6 of the Constitution and bring him to justice, as it was the only way to establish strong and stable democracy.
Ch. Nisar appreciated the government for its decision not to table NRO before the National Assembly and hoped the government would continue to respect mandate of the Parliament in future.
He announced that PML (N) would stage a rally outside the Parliament to condemn November 3 action and express solidarity with the judiciary and appealed all political forces to join them.
Those who spoke included Zafar Baig Bhitani, Amir Muqam, Yousaf Talpur, Akhundzada Chitan, Marvi Memon, Akram Masih Gill, Yasmin Rehman, Sher Muhammad Baloch, Ayaz Amir and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.