World | Pakistan
Hussain questions need for UN probe
PML-Q leader says move contradicts government's position on foreign anti-terror troops.
- By Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
- Published: 00:08 July 15, 2008
Islamabad: The opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) has hit out at the government for seeking a United Nations probe into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, saying the move had left the door open for foreign interference in the country's affairs.
PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told reporters after a meeting of the party's central executive committee that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led government's first 100 days in power had been a big letdown.
Resolution passed
The PML-Q had passed a resolution denouncing the government's performance, he said.
On the UN decision to institute a commission of inquiry to probe the assassination of Bhutto on Islamabad's request, he said the move was fraught with serious implications for the country.
Hussain said the government's request for the foreign investigation into Bhutto's assassination ran counter to its avowed refusal to entertain any anti-terror action by foreign troops on Pakistani soil.
PML-Q secretary general Mushahid Hussain charged that the visit of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to the Mideast on the summons of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari - with a huge entourage in tow - was an uncalled for drain on the state exchequer in the name of official expenses.
The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, charged the PPP government with victimising PML-Q workers across the country.
According to party officials, the central executive committee meeting discussed the PML-Q's likely course of action in the event of a break-up of the alliance between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif amid the dragging row over the future of judges deposed by President Musharraf last year.
Coalition rift discussed
Source said most members of the PML-Q executive favoured joining hands with Zardari's party in the event the PPP-PML-Q coalition fell apart.
The meeting, according to the sources, decided to defend Musharraf against any move to impeach him.
A private domestic television channel, meanwhile, reported that the top PML-Q leadership was due to travel to the Mideast amid speculation that it signalled a bid to get in touch with Zardari, who is currently in the region.
The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, charged the PPP government with victimising PML-Q workers across the country.
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