The government on Wednesday denied a top opposition leader claim that more than 50 percent PML parliamentarians had assured him they would resign to block President Musharraf's re-election by present parliament.
As the government once again had succumbed to quorum problem, it delayed the winding up of the three-day debate amid severe criticism from both treasury and opposition benches over the country's foreign policy. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan said the statement of Javed Hashmi was totally baseless and was mere propaganda.
Javed the other day had claimed that more than 50 percent of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League members had submitted their resignations to him, and they wanted to join PML-N. Talking to reporters on Wednesday, he said he owned his statement, and that time would tell how many ruling parliamentarians were going to quit the ruling PML, giving a blow to President Musharraf's plan to seek re-election from the present assemblies.
Meanwhile, the government failed to wind up the debate on foreign policy with particular reference to statements of US presidential candidates and threats of military intervention in Pakistan.
As per schedule, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri attended the afternoon session to conclude the debate but thin attendance of treasury members diminished government's hope of smooth winding up of the heated deliberations.
There were hardly 30 treasury members besides a dozen opposition members to complete the quorum of the house. Speaker Amir Hussain gained some time by allowing members from both sides of the aisle to bring in minimum required members but he failed to do so. All of sudden, Sher Afgan intervened and moved a motion designed to extend the debate for one more day.
Earlier, ruling members kept on grilling the government and called for review of its relations with the United States in the wake of threatening statements by US presidential candidates to use military force inside Pakistan.
A day after defence parliamentary secretary's fiery speech against the US, another treasury member Ijaz Chaudhry blasted White House hopefuls on Wednesday. "I ask them (US forces) to come here (in Pakistan). We don't want to fight with our own people. I challenge they would never dare to step in here," he said angrily.
About the US financial aid, he said the government should categorically refuse to accept it. "We should get rid of the US conditional aid. We don't need that." He also supported the religio-political alliance.
Speaking about the PPP-government deal, he said he would welcome the deal if it was done to restore democracy in the country. "I welcome this deal if it is aimed at restoration of democracy but if this is in connection with the US agenda I strongly condemn it," he said. Ijaz said the American empire was about to sink. Therefore, Pakistan should not be scared of its threats. "I urge President Musharraf not to meet low level US officials like Richard Boucher," he appealed.
He also reacted angrily over one of US presidential candidates' statement about bombing Muslims holy sites, saying one billion Muslims would become suicide bombers to take revenge. The other opposition as well as treasury members condemned statements by US officials and presidential candidates and called for a shift in country's foreign policy. The house will now meet on Thursday at 0930 hours.