Opposition leader in National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rahman on Monday alleged government was raising Hudood Ordinance issue to create "rift" in ranks of joint opposition. Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have "difference of opinion" in this regard and government is trying everything to divide joint opposition.
Moreover challenging certificates of religious seminaries are part of these tactics" he told Meet the Press program of Karachi Press Club (KPC) here.
He said some people were of opinion that Presidential Ordinance, allowing release of women in jails on minor offences, was aimed at benefiting former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and facilitating her return to Pakistan without any fear.
"If it is so, we welcome move but promulgation of Presidential Ordinance allowing release of women from jails has political motives. Why didn't President promulgate that ordinance earlier," MMA Secretary General observed.
He said hundreds of youths were languishing at jails without any offence or on charges of minor and bail-able offences but nobody cares about their rights. "Are they not human beings and don't they have any rights". He charged agencies pick people from homes without following any legal procedure and keep them in illegal confinement for months.
"There is no institution left for people to provide them justice. If United States declares anybody criminal, he or she becomes a condemned person. Several hundred Pakistanis have been handed over to US on its demand without following state laws. Only a dictator can do so in Pakistan" he alleged.
Defending his remarks on failure of ARD's no trust motion against PM Shaukat Aziz, he said by saying so he tried to "suggest" ARD that government gives no importance to the Parliament and their motion will yield no positive result. "I'm opposition leader in National Assembly and have right to say what is beneficial for the opposition and what is not.
This does not mean that I'm trying to support government and divide opposition. MMA has decided to approach masses against the government while ARD decided to bring no confidence motion against government in the assembly, which to me is not right course of action" he asserted.
He told a questioner that opposition was united on some issues like restoration of Constitution, end of military's intervention in governance and removal of General Pervez Musharraf as President and Chief of Army Staff.
"But, personally I don't believe in change of faces. I want a permanent end to military intervention in political affairs and governance. If it pokes nose in politics, it will have to face criticism," he added.
He vowed President Pervez Musharraf would not be allowed to re-elect himself from parliament. "We will resist this move at all cost. How can assemblies, having only five-years tenure, elect a President for 10 years," he questioned. On Balochistan and Waziristan situation, he said only political measures could resolve these issues instead of using brutal force.
"After appointment, new NWFP Governor took right initiative and announced to resolve issue politically. His initiative resulted in cease-fire by militants. Political agent in South Waziristan also started moving freely" he observed.
Maulana Fazlur Rahman said a joint Parliamentary committee visited Balochistan, held talks with leadership and presented its recommendations but instead of presenting them in the assembly for debate, they (government) continued military operation in the province.
He criticised media for not opposing Finance bill through which it increased working hours from 8 to 12 hours in the country. Had it been done by any "Islamic" government, media would have "raised sky on heads". "In NWFP, when some sign boards were broken, media raised hue and cry. But when it came to act of a US-backed government, they took it mildly" he opined.
He said Pakistan was being run against Constitutional norms as instead of following Islam as foundation of all laws, anti-Islamic laws were being promulgated, instead of democracy, there was dictatorship, instead of Parliamentary system of governance, all powers were centred at President's office.
"We are derailed from track of democracy. President even says if his supporters would not be re-elected he will be leave, assuming that people want him to remain in power, which is a misunderstanding" he added.
Maulana Fazlur Rahman also criticised the US and Western world and said a glimpse of what was happening in US detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghuraib in Iraq and Bagram airbase in Afghanistan reveals true face of barbarian west and the US.