By Imtiaz Ali

Karachi: Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Fehmida Mirza, said on Wednesday that trivial issues were being blown out of proportion to create chaos in the country’s politics.

Speaking to media persons at an Eid Milan Party given in honour of journalists by the newly established PPP Sindh’s Media Cell here, the speaker urged the leaders of political parties to rise above what she termed partisan politics. “They should face the challenges (confronting the country) ranging from terrorism to unemployment and inflation, as collective efforts by all parties would give hopes to the masses for resolution of their problems,” she said.

She said that if democracy was derailed, it would lead to hopelessness among the people. Mirza said that there was no danger to the parliament, as the process of empowering the parliament and the prime minister has begun, which was evident from the transferring of the command and control powers to the premier.

She said that it reflected the intentions of the president who wanted to give powers to the legislature and the prime minister.

Mirza said that the supremacy of the parliament was established when the NRO was not presented before it and withdrawn.

Talking about the 27-member committee of the parliament for repealing the 17th Amendment and giving provincial autonomy, she said that the process has been expedited and in-camera sessions were going on to develop consensus over the amendments. She termed provincial autonomy the most critical issue under the current situation, especially in Balochistan. “The ‘Aghaz-e-Huqooq Balochistan Package’ is a positive step and its very words show that it is a beginning. However, there is room for further improvement,” she said.

Mirza said that the legislators would give their input about the Balochistan package when the parliament’s session begins on December 7. Answering a question, Mirza said that the PPP had rendered sacrifices and now it was time for others to give sacrifices. She said if the sacrifices were needed, it should be given for strengthening the country. The speaker said that there was no challenge to President Asif Ali Zardari, adding, “He (president) is being targeted, which in fact is an attack on the PPP.” To another question, the speaker said that seeds of terrorism and extremism were sown by despot rulers and the menace could not be ended within one-and-a-half-year. Mirza urged all political leaders to keep their partisan politics aside and jointly face the issue of terrorism and other challenges.

She said that different political parties were ruling different provinces in coalition and they have to work together to provide relief to the masses.

Referring to the performance of the parliament, she said 23 resolutions had so far been passed unanimously and 17 bills were also passed with consensus while for the first time, private members’ bills were being encouraged for legislation.

“For the first time, the parliament was given briefing about terrorism by law enforcement agencies,” she added.
Source: The News
Date:12/3/2009