Nisar asks Army to clarify position

ISLAMABAD Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has asked the Army to clarify its position regarding the alleged conspiracy hatched to attack the then deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhrys caravan near Kharian.
Speaking on a point of the order in the National Assembly, Nisar directly asked Army, General Headquarters (GHQ) and the Chief of Army Staff to explain whether or not Army was onboard in the alleged conspiracy of former president Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf to attack deposed CJs caravan.
He raised this issue as it revealed by former chief minister Punjab Ch. Pervaiz Elahi in a TV programme that he prevailed upon Musharraf to avert the plan to ambush the deposed CJs caravan in the mountains near Kharian where armed snipers had also been deployed to hit him.
He also demanded of the Speaker National Assembly to convene an in-camera session and seek briefing from Elahi on the matter to unearth the conspiracy and track down the other players of the conspiracy. He asked GHQ and the Army Chief to come out clear on the subject, as it was the matter of prestige of the elite institution of the country and it was to ascertain whether Gen (Retd) Musharraf was the chief of Army staff or a head of mafia.
He once again reiterated the demand to bring back Musharraf and try him for the grave charges he had committed and warned if it was not done, the incidents like Lal Masjid and killing of Nawab Akbar Bughti and Balaj Merri would continue to happen in the future.
He said the plan to ambush the deposed CJs caravan was the reflection of the mindset which led to the incidents like Lal Masjid carnage, Nawab Akbar Khan Bughti and Balaj Merris killing.
He also referred to the meeting of Gen Musharraf with the then chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif wherein he had talked of elimination of MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain.
He warned the Government that continuous delaying the implementation of SC verdict on NRO case would spin the Government into restoration of judges and attempt to get NRO passed from Parliament like situations where the position of Parliament was compromised.
He has said the superior courts interpret Constitution and Parliament can only legislate and asked the Government to implement the SC verdict without any further delay and avoid pushing the things to a deadlock like situation where the ultimate losers would be the democracy.
He was also critical of the role of President Zardari who has turned Presidency into a party office and advised him to follow the decorum of the office of President. He further said that whenever he would deliver some speech as party co-chairman, he would be responded in the same vein as well. Responding to the criticism on his party leadership which was not present in Lahore on eve of President Zardaris visit to the provincial metropolis, Ch Nisar said that the visit of CM Punjab to Turkey was scheduled a month earlier while Mian Nawaz Sharif was in China for treatment of his spouse.
Talking on same issue PML (Q) MP Riaz Hussain Pirzada also supported holding of in-camera briefing on the issue of the alleged conspiracy against Chief Justice of Pakistan hatched by the former dictator Gen. (Retd) Musharraf.
He also demanded of the Government to fully implement the decision of SC in NRO case.
Responding to points raised by leader of the opposition Ch. Nisar Ali Khan, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Babar Awan said the Government had already filed a petition for review on certain points on the basis of short order on NRO case and now it had 30 days for filing of appeal on the basis of the detailed judgement.
He further said the Government was examining the detailed judgement of the Supreme Court on the NRO case. The Minister said the system faced no threat from the verdicts of the judiciary as these were being delivered under the concept of trichotomy of powers. He said, We do not want confrontation with any institution and those wishing for that would be disappointed.
He also held out an assurance the Government would not move any summary about appointment of judges outside the ambit of the Constitution, law and verdicts of the judiciary.
He said that only Parliament had right to do legislation and no other institution could bring any change in the Constitution.
He said that President Zardari could deliver speeches in his capacity as party co-chairman and by doing so he had not violated any law.
About relations with India, he said Pakistan wanted ties with India on equal footings. He said there could not be durable peace in the region without resolution of the core issue of Kashmir as per aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Referring to the interview of former chief minister Punjab Pervaiz Elahi that there was a plan in 2007 to ambush the caravan of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary on way from Islamabad to Lahore, the Minister said as the area in question fell within the jurisdiction of Punjab, he would ask the IG Police of the province to inquire into it and submit a report.