PA passes resolution against President

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Monday passed a resolution calling upon President Pervez Musharraf to tender resignation or get vote of confidence. The resolution moved by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was passed with 321 votes in favour and 25 against.
The house called upon the parliament to move impeachment motion against the President if he does not resign or seek vote of confidence.
The Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was also present in the house when the resolution was presented in the house.
The opposition leader Ch Zaheer Ahmad opposing the resolution said that there were not such circumstances or any urgency in the country to move the resolution in the house.
The law minister favouring the resolution urged the Speaker to allow moving the resolution in the house for suspending rules of procedure of the PA 1997 under rule 234.
The speaker with majority vote allowed to move the resolution in the house.
The resolution said that under article 41 of the constitution of the Islamic republic of Pakistan, The Punjab Assembly is a part of the electoral college for the election of the office of the President.
The resolution said that PA has objection on the validity or legality of the election held in October, 2007 for the office of President of Pakistan.
The resolution said General Pervez Musharraf is unfit to hold the office of President by virtue of being guilty of violating the constitution of Pakistan and/or of gross misconduct.
The resolution said that Gen. ® Pervez Musharraf has subverted the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan twice by holding it in abeyance.
It said he (Pervez Musharraf) has violated and undermined the constitution and derailed the transition to democracy.
It said that in terms of Article 41 (1) of the Constitution, the office of the President represents the unity of the republic.
Pervez Musharraf has violated the same and has caused to promote inter provincial tension, a deepened sense of deprivation, denied provincial autonomy thus leading to weakening the Federation, it added.
The resolution said that the policies pursued by General ® Pervez Musharraf during the last 8 years have brought Pakistan to the brink of a critical political and economic impasse.
The incompetence and failure of his policies has plunged the country into the worst power shortage in its history and brought unprecedented misery upon the people, it added.
It said that Pervez Musharraf’s policies have paralysed the federation and eroded the trust of the national in key national institutions.
“In the light of the above, we hereby call upon General (R.) Pervez Musharraf to take as vote of confidence from his electoral college or resign in terms of Article 44 (3) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan immediately. In case he fails to do so, we call upon and urge the Parliament to give Notice of impeachment in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitutions,” the resolution added.
PPP Parliamentary Leader Raja Riaz Ahmad, PML-F Parliamentary leader Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood and MMA Parliamentary Leader Noor Niazi spoke in favour of moving resolution in the house.
The speaker adjourned the session till today(Tuesday) at 10.00 am.