Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid has said that the opposition was following double standards for political gains.
Talking to newsmen at an Iftar-cum-dinner he hosted for the journalists of the twin cities on Sunday, he said, the opposition on the one hand, was claiming to be working for democracy, while on the other, it was desecrating the respect of vote. They tore apart the ballots at the time of voting in the National Assembly on the motion of no confidence against Speaker. Sheikh Rashid said while the opposition was demanding the supremacy of Parliament, it is not ready to accept the decisions of the legislature. He said the 17th amendment has been passed by the Parliament and the Opposition must accept it.
In reply to a question, he said democracy has strengthened under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf and the country's image went up in the comity of nation. He said the President was forcefully pleading the case of Deeni Madaris before the international community while the MNA itself was unable to project the useful service of these Madaris. He said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) must realise the ground situation and should not play in the hands of the ARD.
To another question he said the President has himself promised that the Assemblies would complete their term.
He said the issue of lack of quorum in the Assembly is a cause of concern and is being taken care of. He said it is equal responsibility of the treasury and opposition benches to maintain quorum because lack of quorum is not good for the image of the Assembly. To a question, he said, a three-member committee has been formed to run the proceedings of the National Assembly smoothly and he would meet MMA leaders Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Qazi Hussain Ahmed in the next few days.