NWFP assembly in Pakistan to be dissolved on October 8

Islamabad, Oct 4 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said the assembly in the Northwestern Frontier Province (NWFP) will be dissolved on October 8 after the disposal of no-confidence resolution against provincial Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani.

The conservative NWFP is ruled by the six-party Islamic alliance, Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), which used to occupy opposition benches in the National Assembly before its members resigned en masse on Tuesday.

''Supporters of President Pervez Musharraf have created some legal complications and restrained Mr Durrani from dissolving the assembly, but these tactics will not validate the re-election of Gen Musharraf,'' Dawn newspaper quoted Rehman as saying in Peshawar.

He said Gen Musharraf had lost the game on moral grounds and he himself had destroyed his credibility by manoeuvring his unconstitutional re-election.

''Even if he succeeds in bagging votes from the NWFP assembly, it will not restore his credibility,'' he stressed Rahman said that MMA lawmakers would not cast their vote in the presidential election on October 6. ''It is not a matter of vote, it is a matter of credibility.'' He, however, admitted that the MMA was caught in a complicated situation after the Supreme Court had on September 28 dismissed petitions of Qazi Hussain Ahmed and others challenging holding of dual offices by Gen Musharraf.

''We could not decide about resignations before the verdict. Had the apex court given its verdict against Gen Musharraf, the situation would have been different. Time factor is important, but rapid changes also matter in politics,''he added.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Malik Qayyum today accused the opposition parties of seeking a stay on the presidential elections to allow NWFP chief minister to advise governor dissolve the provincial assembly on October 8.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing petitions by presidential candidate Wajihuddin Ahmad and Makhdoom Ami Fahim seeking a stay on the October 6 polls till decision on their appeals.

They prayed in their appeals that Gen Musharraf, holding dual offices, is disqualified to contest election for the next term. They said he will be disqualified to hold any public office for two years even if he doffs his uniform after election.

UNI