Rift between Zardari, Gilani camps clearly visible in Pak Assembly

Islamabad, Jan 23 (ANI): The intra-party bickering is no more a secret and a divide between the camp supporting President Asis Ali Zardari and the camp supporting Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is clearly visible in the National Assembly, with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) parliamentarians now taking positions.

Although a member can raise any issue of public importance in the House, normally treasury members avoid putting questions to ministers and do not draw the attention of the House to any matter that embarrasses the government.

The PPP-led coalition government often faces a situation when the treasury members, particularly from the PPP, expose its "incompetence", the Daily Times reported.

The matter was regarding the import of substandard wheat and all the questions Munawar Talpur, Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur, Shamshad Bachani and Yasmeen Rehman - all close to the Presidency had put to Makhdoom Amin Fahim were not currently relevant and it clearly appeared that they were asked only to make him "stand" up and respond to the queries of those whom once he had led as their party chief.

Gilani, however, tacitly conveyed a message to the House to unite and undo the 17th Constitutional Amendment.

"I and the President fully agree that this parliament is supreme and if a bill is brought with consensus to bring a balance in the powers of the president and the prime minister, we will support it," Gilani said in response to Ahsan Iqbal's point of order. (ANI)