Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, the parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf at the Punjab Assembly, said, “We will be a constructive opposition at the assembly and act in the best interest of the people who elected us.”
The assembly has its work cut for it with the PTI in opposition, said Rashid, “Gone are the days of submissive oppositions.”
The PTI has decided to support the Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid’s candidate for the post of deputy speaker in return for the PML-Q’s support for PTI’s candidate for the post of speaker in the Punjab Assembly. The PTI had nominated Raja Rashid Hafeez as speaker and PML-Q had nominated Sardar Waqas Hassan Moakkal as deputy speaker, Rashid said.
All PML-Q and Jamaat-i-Islami members and six independents said they would vote for PTI’s nominee for leader of the opposition in the house, said Rashid. “I would be the joint candidate for this slot,” he said. He said the PTI would not enter an alliance with any party in the opposition. All parties will contribute to the opposition while maintaining their separate identities, said Rashid.
“Most of the independent members gave us a positive response and said they would join us in building a constructive opposition,” he said. The opposition will observe the democratic norms and contribute to the assembly’s business, said Rashid.
“We would bring to the House positive criticism grounded in fact and good logic,” he said, “PML-Q leader Chaudhry Moonis Elahi and I have reached an agreement on the matter.”
‘Federal govt should stop drone attacks’
Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak said the federal government should announce a comprehensive policy regarding America’s drone attacks in the Tribal Areas.
He was speaking to media after meeting with PTI Chairperson Imran Khan, at his residence on Saturday.
Khattak said the federal government should move to end drone attacks. He said his Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa government would stand by its stance. He said KP’s government would protest on the matter if the government did not take immediate steps as, “It would damage our credibility”. He said KP’s government would raise the issue at the Centre for a peaceful and solid resolution. “We hope the federal government responds in kind otherwise it would be responsible for the problems faced by the province,” said Khattak.
To a question about the NATO supply route and its use by American forces, Khattak said, “We will take all coalition partners on board and take a decision keeping the aspirations of the people in mind”.
The Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa’s government will ensure peaceful and corruption-free governance in the province. “The change has begun in the KP. We will ensure the safety of life and property,” said Khattak, “We will work towards raising the morale of the police. There will be no-tolerance of high handedness.”
Imran Khan’s vision and PTI’s policies would be implemented at all levels and without delay, Khattak said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2013.