Lawmakers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the National Assembly on Monday focused on the impeachment of President Musharraf on the third day of the debate on the annual budget, holding him responsible for the economic instability the country is facing.
The traditional anti-Musharraf League, whose elected government was toppled by the President some nine years back in a bloodless coup, is stuck to its guns to restore the sacked judges followed by the impeachment of the President along with his trial under Article 6, contending the move would be the sole solution to bring the country out of all the crises.
The commitment of the PML-N was again seen on Monday in the National Assembly where its lawmakers mainly focused on Musharraf's impeachment more than the debate on budget.
The PML-N considers the mandate of February 18 elections given to the then opposition parties is totally anti-Musharraf and he has now left with no justification to stay as President of the country after this elections.
Barjis Tahir of PML-N demanded of the coalition government to reinstate sacked judges through a parliamentary resolution along with impeachment of President.
He also suggested constituting a parliamentary committee for probing the Kargil issue. "The countrymen cannot wait for long and coalition partners should implement Murree Declaration," he asked.
Barjis also condemned the recent attack of Nato forces on Pakistan army in Fata and the statement of Defence Minister, where he had stated that Pakistan has no capability to stop attacks carried out from a height of 25000-foot.
About Budget, he said government decision to increase 20 percent salaries be also applied on private sectors and expressed his concern over the mechanism to increase the oil prices fortnightly.
He also recommended increasing the limit of taxable income from 180,000 to 300,000. Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir of PML-N said that as long as Musharraf is in the Presidency, the country would not come out of the present crisis.
He added that PML-N is committed to restore the judges and if they were not restored then even new generation would not get rid of such conspiracies of dictators.
Mian Javed Lateef of PML-N demanded of the to government to constitute a commission to probe the killings from PPP founding chairman Z A Bhutto to Nawab Akber Bugti and the people killed in Lal Masjid. He added that the responsible elements be brought to book.
"On one hand our people are dying from hunger, unemployment and poverty, on the other, musical nights are being arranged at the president house spending million of rupees," he alleged. Bushra Gohar of ANP opposed the slash of subsidy on oil as well as increase of one percent GST, terming it a dual wound to the masses.
She also pointed out that there was no mechanism in the new budget to check the internal and external borrowing. Gohar hailed the decision of 20 percent raise in the salaries of government employees, suggesting not to give any raise to the cabinet members and parliamentarians.
Wasim Akhter of PML-N demanded of the government to bring the former technocrat Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz back to the country through the Interpol and recover the alleged looted wealth of the nation. He also opposed slashing of subsidy and one percent increase in GST.
"It is the demand of the entire nation to send Musharraf home - the main cause of the economic crisis," Wasim repeated the party demand. Imtiaz Safdar Warriach of PPP blamed the previous government for transferring the crisis, loss and hardship to the new government in every sector like Wapda, PIA, Railways and banking.
The foreign debt was $32 billion at the time of taking over by Musharraf and it rose to $45 billion during his eight years tenure. There is an unmatchable gap between poor and rich, whose everything school, hospital and even graveyard is separated.
Being an agro-based economy, Pakistan has to rely on import and need to concentrate on research to boost the wheat production. Warriach remarked that President Musharraf should himself tender his resignation after realising the situation and thanking the nation as he became President from a lieutenant.
Farzana Mushtaq of PML-N said that Asif Zardari has said that PPP got vote for rooti, kapra aur makan but did nothing in the new budget for ensuring these essential items for the people, demanding of the government to retain the subsidies on oil and food items.
Salahuddin of MQM recommended to carryout land reforms to break the strong net of feudalism. He highlighted that industrial and agriculture sectors would be destroyed due to increase in the oil prices. Anjum Aqil Khan, Shagufta Jamani, Fauzia Habib, Arbab Mohammad Zahir, Arbab Alamgir, Palwala Shah, Engineer Mohammad Tahir Khatack and number of other members also took part in the debate.