The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Friday filed an adjournment motion with the National Assembly, seeking debate on the March 2005 Karachi stock market crash.
MNAs Naheed Khan, Rubina Saadat, Fauzia Wahab, Abid Sher, Murtaza Satti, Mehreen Anwar, Manzoor Ahmad, Qurban Ali Shah and Qamar Zaman contended in the motion that the crash caused 13 billion dollars loss, therefore, suspending the routine business, the matter should be debated in the House.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani defended President General Musharraf chairing the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and its allies' meetings, saying we seek guidance from him, because 'we all love him so much'. The minister was speaking at a news conference at the Parliament cafeteria.
In his most effective winding up speech, he claimed that the Minister for Privatisation Zahid Hamid had filed an open FIR against the opposition for their conspiracies to derail the democratic process and impede the economic progress.
About the opposition's criticism against the Pakistan Steel Mills' privatisation, he challenged the opposition to bring forward a consortium offering higher bid or stop exploiting the Supreme Court decisions.