MPAs of NWFP Assembly sworn in amid tight security

Islamabad, Mar 28 (UNI) As many as 116 members of the 15th NWFP Assembly took oath at the inaugural session of the Provincial Assembly in Peshawar today.

The house, presided over by senior MPA Arbab Ayub Jan, unanimously passed a resolution demanding an inquiry by the United Nations into the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

PPP's Abdul Akbar Khan moved the resolution.

The oath for the MPAs was administered in three languages -- Urdu, English and Pushto. The NWFP Assembly consists of 99 general seats, 22 seats reserved for women and three seats for minorities.

MPA Anwar Saifullah Khan was the lone absentee from the oath taking, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

MPA Attiqur Rehman from Hangu and Qalbe Hassan from Kohat initially refused to take oath in protest of the ongoing unrest in their districts following violent clashes between the Katchai and Mishti tribes and walked out of the assembly Hall.

They, however, ended their boycott after some time and took oath.

PPPP Karamatullah Khan Chagarmatti and ANP's Khushdil Khan were elected unopposed as Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

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