The former ruling parties have demanded of the Pakistan Peoples Party to announce name of the new prime minister and also appealed to President Pervez Musharraf for summoning the National Assembly session to end the anxiety and confusion among masses.
The leaders made this demand at a luncheon ceremony hosted by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in honour of senators and newly-elected MNAs of PML-Q, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, PML-Functional and PPP-Sherpao, showing their strength in response to the one made by the major winning parties last week. The erstwhile ruling parties also vowed to sit on the opposition benches by setting a new tradition of progressive politics instead of desk-thumping and walkouts.
Addressing the ceremony, Chaudhry Shujaat said that they have decided to sit in the opposition benches and would play a positive role on national issues and would not compromise on the prosperity and sovereignty of the nation.
"National consensus and promoting dialogue culture among political parties is the need of the hour to address the issues of national importance," he maintained.
Like in the past, he said, they would remain united in future and continue struggle for the prosperity of the country. Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that due to the delay in the formation of the government, there is a confusion and anxiety among masses for which the winning parties should initiate and announce the name of new prime minister. He also appealed to President Musharraf to immediately summon the National Assembly.
He proposed that the opposition parties should prepare 180-day agenda for the new government by focusing on addressing the menace of terrorism and extremism, law and order as well as a strategy to overcome the ongoing inflation, poverty and unemployment.
Besides, he said, the new government has to address issue of loadshedding, water shortage and 'Atta' crisis, providing relief to the poor segment of the society. Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader said that his party is mindful of playing an effective role by sitting in opposition. However, the winning parties, he said, have to accept and respect the mandate given to opposition parties and any political confrontation, he said, would lead the country towards more crises. He also called for joint struggle to end feudalism and provision of provincial autonomy.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said PPP and PML-N could not be able to form the government despite having required seats. Our government led by President Pervaiz Musharraf had fulfilled all the responsibilities and now we would play as a strong opposition by keeping eyes on the activities of the new government.
He said that opposition would do politics on the issues of national importance instead of politics of vested interests. Elahi said that PML did not follow the politics of victimisation during its five-year and the MMA government in NWFP was also treated as equal as PML governments in other provinces.
He said that the Local Government system is the essence of the President Musharraf's political reform and PML would protect it in future. PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that now the ball is in the court of the winning parties and they should form the government.
He added that the PML and its allied parties had got the highest votes in the February 18 elections due to its services rendered in the in the five years. He said that PML had introduced the culture of reconciliation in politics instead of culture of revenge.
Mushahid praised President Pervez Musharraf for what he said that carrying out broadbased reforms in all sectors. He also said that PML-led opposition would do constructive politics instead of desk-thumping.
Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that PML-Q leaders would face every issue by staying in the country as they are not among those who run away from the country after ending their rules. He also said that those who demand accountability should first clean their hands with what he termed " NRO soup'. PML-Functional Senator Abdul Razzaq Tahim also assured his co-operation in forming a strong opposition.