The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) on Wednesday submitted a privilege motion in the National Assembly against President Asif Ali Zardari's statement on giving safe passage to the former President General Pervez Musharraf (Retd). As many as 91 members of the National Assembly (MNAs) of PML-N have signed the privilege motion, submitted to the National Assembly Secretariat by Hanif Abbasi, Dr Tariq Fazal and Anjum Aqeel of PML-N.
Leader of opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday announced in his chamber to submit privilege motions against the President's statement, confirming deal between the Pakistan People's Party government and the international guarantors to give safe passage to former President Musharraf after his resignation.
The motion says: "We, the following members of the National Assembly would like to move the motion involving a serious breach of the privilege of the house. President Asif Ali Zardari, in his press briefing to selected journalists on September 14, 2009, said that General Pervez Musharraf ultimately decided to resign after a deal struck between him and various other 'international stakeholders, who have interests in the region.'"
The motion says: "The fact of the matter is that Musharraf was forced to resign as a result of the pressure put on him on account of the impeachment proceedings initiated against him by parliament. The revelations as reported in the press have raised serious questions about the independence and the sovereignty of the National Assembly, hence this issue be referred to the Privilege Committee."
After submitting the privilege motion, Hanif Abbasi said President Zardari's disclosure that former ruler vacated the slot under a negotiated settlement, guaranteed by local and international stakeholders, which was a serious breach of the parliament's sanctity. He said the President did not take the parliament and nation into confidence while striking a deal with a person, who abrogated the Constitution. Responding to a question, he said the clarification issued by the President's spokesman had no value after startling disclosure by Asif Ali Zardari.
"This spokesman has no credibility... he was telling on the media that Benazir Bhutto was safe and reached her home when, in fact, the former premier had expired in the hospital," he added. He said the PML-N was not part of the deal, aimed at giving safe passage to former president Pervez Musharraf, adding it would not budge from its stance that he (Musharraf) be tried according to Article 6 of the Constitution. Answering another question, Abbasi said the PPP-led government would itself be responsible for pushing the country towards mid-term polls by not acting against Musharraf according to the Constitution.