New Pak MPs gather for maiden Assembly session

Pakistan's newly elected MPs began assembling on Monday for the maiden session of the new parliament amid tight security.

Pakistan’s newly elected MPs began assembling on Monday for the maiden session of the new parliament amid tight security, setting in motion the process for the formation of a coalition government by parties that defeated President Pervez Musharraf’s allies in Feb 18 polls.

A total of 334 members of the National Assembly will be sworn in by outgoing Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain. Following this, they will elect a speaker and deputy speaker for the 342-member lower house of parliament.

Ahead of the swearing in ceremony, the Pakistan People’s Party, PML-N and Awami National Party which are set to form the coalition government will hold a joint parliamentary party meeting to nominate their candidates for speaker and deputy speaker.

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The meeting, to be chaired by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan, is also expected to give final shape to modalities for forming government and the distribution of berths in the federal cabinet.

However, the PPP is yet to settle differences within the party on nominating a prime ministerial candidate.

Party vice chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who was the front-runner for the slot till Zardari sidelined him, said he had no plans to quit the PPP if he was not chosen for the post.

Asked about reports that Zardari himself wanted to be the premier, Fahim told reporters outside the parliament building, “I have repeatedly said that if he wants to become the prime minister, I will be the first person to help him and support him.” Senior PPP leader Nabeel Gabol yesterday said there were five candidates for the post of premiership, including Fahim, Zardari’s sister Azra Pechaho, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Yusuf Raza Gillani and Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

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It was also not immediately clear whether the new MPs would take oath according to the new constitution containing amendments introduced by Musharraf during last year’s emergency.

PML-N chief Sharif has said his party will remove all the new amendments, which he described as illegal.

Outgoing Speaker Hussain said: “The oath will be administered under the 1973 constitution and there should be no doubt to any one.”

Sharif has also vowed to challenge Musharraf’s rule while Zardari and other PPP leaders have indicated they want a working relationship with the President.

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The PPP and PML-N signed an agreement on March 9 to form a coalition government after they defeated the PML-Q party which is backed by Musharraf, in the February 18 polls.

After Saturday night’s blast at a restaurant in a market in the heart of Islamabad that is frequented by Western nationals and diplomats, security arrangements were further tightened around the parliament.

A Turkish women was killed and several foreigners, including four FBI personnel, were injured in the attack.

Several key roads in the heart of Islamabad were blocked with concrete blocks and police squads stepped up patrolling on the city’s roads. Areas adjacent to the parliament building, including the Constitutional Avenue, Judges Colony and several areas housing key government offices, have been declared as Red Zone.

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Officials said security in these areas will remain on high alert and unauthoriSed persons will not be allowed to travel through roads in the region. Only the new MPs, Senators and senior political leaders were allowed to enter parliament through its main gate.

Special passes were issued to all MPs, political leaders and journalists for the session. Cars were thoroughly checked before being allowed to pass through the parliament building’s gates. The city administration advised people not to travel towards the parliament building to avoid inconvenience.