Leaders from various political parties in the province have welcomed the decision to impeach President Musharraf by the ruling coalition. The political leaders have warned that if implementation of the decision to impeach the president was delayed it would result in endangering the very existence of Pakistan and the forces working against democracy in the country will once again throw the nation into a quagmire of dictatorship. All Parties Democratic Movement’s convener and chief of Pakhtunkwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) Mehmood Khan Achakzai in his reaction to the recent announcement by the ruling coalition about the restoration of the judges and the impeachment of President Musharraf said that there was nothing new in the announcement, as before the London All Parties Conference (APC), all parties except Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) had agreed at four points. The APDM was founded on the principle of doing away with the role of military from politics.
He said that four parties including Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz participated in the February 18 general elections, while the other political parties boycotted the elections.
“There was hope that these parties after the elections would play their role for supremacy of the law and democracy in the country,” he said. Mehmood Khan Achakzai said that the Pakistan People’s Party disappointed them. He said that they welcome the consensus between the PML-N and the PPP – it’s better late then never. He said that the APDM would never like to see the forces of dictatorship taking over the reigns once again or that the Article 58 (2) b is used once again and the country once again falls in a quagmire of crises. We will never support a dictatorial system. Mehmood Khan Achakzai said that the impeachment of the president was not enough and the government should also take steps for the restoration of the judges. He said that the restoration of the judges was not just the voice of the people of Pakistan but it was also the will and advice of the late PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, who wanted to see the Pakistani flag hoisted at the residence of the chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. The All Parties Democratic Movement chief asked them to move forward, saying that they were willing to support the ruling coalition government. He said that we would defeat the forces that would come in the way of a democratic Pakistan. Chief of National Party Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch said that the announcements made by the ruling coalition leaders Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari and others were encouraging and that we should have good expectations. He said that if President Musharraf was removed and the political leaders succeed then there would be strong chances that peace would be restored in the tribal areas as well as in Balochistan.
Dr Baloch said that all this at the end of the day comes down to the intentions of these leaders. He said that the problem would not just solve with the removal of a single person, rather as long as the role of the Establishment, army and the intelligence agencies was not done away with the problems would remain. Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch said that it was not enough that the two parties agree at a point rather it was important that the two leaders implement upon the agreement forthwith and a charge sheet is formulated against President Musharraf.
He said that the operation in Balochistan should top the charge sheet. Abdul Hayee Baloch said that if the government delayed impeachment resolution, than it would not just suffer at the political front rather it would also lead to a wave of disappointment amongst the masses. And the people would not forgive the government in case of a delay. Chief of Jhalawan and provincial minister Sardar Sanaullah Zahri welcomed the decision of the impeachment of the president. He also said that the issues like missing persons, killing of Nawab Bugti and Nawabzada Balach should top the charge sheet against the president.
He said that the president launched military operation in Balochistan that lead to the death of many innocent people. Sanaullah Zahri said that though the decision came late, but it’s better late than never.
In response to a question, he said that impeachment of the president would strengthen democracy in the country, but a delay in it could create complications.
Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Khuda-e-Noor said that the decision by the two parties to impeach the president was in the favour of the country and the nation. He said that the president after this decision should have resigned keeping in view the recent developments. He said that a resignation was an honourable way out for the president. The PML-N leader said that the impeachment movement would succeed and a large number of PML-Q legislators would also cast their vote in favour of the resolution and against the president.