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The National Assembly will meet here on Monday to start what is being perceived as final round of transition to democracy by installing a more muscular parliament that can push for the ouster of President Pervez Musharraf, who is seen hardly strong enough any more to survive, or block, a parliamentary rebuke against him.
An overwhelming victory of his political foes has made him more vulnerable to such shocks. A would-be coalition, led by Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has already set itself onto a confrontation course by agreeing with other partners for the restoration of deposed judges. There have already been reports that the new parliament can impeach Musharraf if he tries to obstruct judges' reinstatement. Previous National Assembly Speaker Amir Hussain will administer the oath to new members.
A joint meeting of parliamentarians from four partners of an agreed ruling coalition will hold a meeting earlier in the day to take important decisions, including nominations for the slots of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Besides PPP-P, members from PML-N, Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) will assemble in the parliament.
Simultaneously, a meeting of federal legislatures-elect from a would-be opposition alliance led by PML-Q is also scheduled.
SCARES ALL AROUND:
The House will be meeting amid the federal capital being under strict surveillance of security and intelligence agency after a bomb blast targeting an eatery popular among foreigners over the weekend.
A spokesperson for Interior Ministry told media on Sunday that suicide bombers were eyeing important personalities, and places anywhere in the country, triggering a spine shivering fear among new parliamentarians. "We are threatened. Scares are all around," a member from NWFP said on the eve of the meeting.
Different entrances will be used for the legislators and other visitors including media cops unlike the practice during normal days. Besides, they will also have to pass through several layers of security checks including walkthrough gates before entering the building already taken over by special personnel of anti-terror police.
Chaudhry on Sunday met representatives of political parties to chalk out a security plan for the session. He told them that elected MPs would have to follow the restriction of bringing only two associates with them to watch them take oath.
The session will be adjourned, after oath taking, till Wednesday for the election of new Speaker and the Deputy Speaker the same day. On Tuesday, candidates of different political parties and alliances for these slots will submit their nomination papers with the Speaker's office.
A one-on-one competition between candidates by a would-be ruling alliance of four parties and a likely opposition grouping is a highly likely probability. After being elected the new Speaker will be sworn in by his predecessor.
The new will supervise the election of Deputy Speaker, and administer oath. The session will then be called off. A fresh, special, sitting will again be called in to elect prime minister, possibly within a week from the National Assembly getting new speakers.
APP adds: Arrangements have been finalised for the maiden session of National Assembly as 334 members are going to take oath as MNAs on Monday. On seven out of total 342 National Assembly seats either there is litigation or the election was terminated or postponed with result culminating in a tie on one seat reserved for women from NWFP.
Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain would chair the inaugural session wherein the House would constitute 225 seats, just three short of two/third majority, for the ruling coalition PPPP, PML-N and ANP. In all, 121 members from PPPP, 91 from PML-N, 13 from ANP, 51 from PML, 25 from MQM, six from MMA, five from PML-F, 19 independent and one each from PPP-S, NPP and BNP-A are likely to take oath and sign the roll of the House.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2008

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