Legislation sole right of parliament: Zardari

By Hadi Aziz Aug 7th, 2012 ( No Comment )

Islamabad: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said that legislation was the sole right of the parliament, and that no bargain would be made over this authority.

In a meeting chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, People’s Party (PPP) has decided to strongly resist ‘all the new centres of power’ confronting the parliament by remaining within the legal and constitutional limits.

Briefing about the meeting, Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting discussed current situation in the country with focus on preparation for elections, overcoming energy crisis and the legal challenges before the government.

He said that the President during the meeting called upon the Party leadership to gear up preparations for the future elections which the President emphasized would be held on time in accordance with the constitutional and legal dictates and in consultation with coalition partners.

President advised party leadership to ensure that every MNA‚ MPA and ticket holder thoroughly check voters lists so that no one was left out and report any discrepancy to Election Commission for rectification.

The president informed his party leaders that the upcoming general elections would be held on time, and directed them to start preparing for the polls.

“The PPP does not hesitate when it comes to the ballot; it believes in the power of the people,” Babar quoted the president as saying.

Law Minister Farooq H Naek also briefed the meeting about the legal and constitutional situation, while Water and Power Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar briefed them on the situation of loadshedding and the energy crisis in the country.

Those who were present during the meeting included among others Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Syed Naveed Qamar, Rehman Malik, Senator Farooq H Naek, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Senators Jahangir Badar and Sardar Ali Khan.