PML-N and PPP MPAs stage demonstration against Nawaz disqualification

The Punjab Assembly members belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan People's Party on Monday strongly condemned the decision of a Lahore High Court (LHC) bench disqualifying the PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif from contesting the by-election of National Assembly seat (NA-123) from Lahore and termed it a deep-rooted conspiracy against the democracy as well as the coalition set-up.
Led by four provincial ministers, Nadeem Kamran, Ahmed Ali Aulakh, Kamran Michael and Iqbal Channer, dozens of MPAs, including women legislators marched from Assembly chambers to Faisal Chowk and raised full-throated slogans of 'Go Musharraf Go', 'PCO judges not acceptable'. At Faisal Chowk, some of the PML-N legislators also beat their chests to protest against the decision.
The PML-N legislators also warned that they would also besiege the courts of judges. Some of the legislators also staged a sit-in at Faisal Chowk to protest against the decision.
The protesting legislators also used harsh words against President Pervez Musharraf and his "remnants" for hatching conspiracies against the democratic set-up as well as its most popular leader. After marching at Faisal Chowk, the legislators returned to Assembly Hall premises and remained there for an hour where they chanted anti-Musharraf slogans.
Earlier, when budget debate was in progress in the Punjab Assembly, PML-N MPA Mohsin Latif on a point of order drew the attention of the House towards the decision of the LHC.
On his pointation, both the PPP and the PML-N legislators started shouting full-throated anti-Musharraf slogans. The MPAs, including Chaudhry Ali Asgher Munda, Sheikh Ijaz and Ijaz Ahmed Khan strongly criticised the decision and termed it a conspiracy against the coalition set-up. They requested the Speaker to adjourn the House to protest against this decision.
Punjab Food Minister Nadeem Kamran said that conspiracies are being hatched against the political system. He said these conspiracies would continue till President Pervez Musharraf remains in Presidency. He requested the Speaker to adjourn the House proceedings till Tuesday morning.
Speaker Rana Mushhood on this occasion said that there could be no progress in the country without true democracy. He adjourned the House to meet again on Tuesday, when general debate on Punjab Budget 2008-09 would continue.
Later, Punjab ministers, including Nadeem Kamran, Ahmed Ali Aulakh and Kamran Michael told reporters in assembly premises that coalition set-up would continue its efforts against remnants of martial law. They said Presidency is still hatching conspiracies against the democratic set-up and the decision of the LHC proves it.
The legislators, including Ghazala Saad Rafique, Maira Majeed, Chaudhry Ali Asgher Munda, Ijaz Ahmed Khan said that they would hold protest against the decision of PCO judges. They also warned that they would besiege the offices of "PCO judges", if their party leadership allowed them. They said the people of Pakistan would never accept this decision and hold strong protest.