Opp keeps up tradition of boycott
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—The Combined Opposition has announced to continue boycott of the National Assembly session. Earlier, speaking in the Nation Assembly on Thursday, Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhary Pervez Elahi has thanked Speaker National Assembly Fehmida Mirza for appointing him as Opposition Leader in the lower house.
For the first time in history of Pakistan, he said, we have cast vote of confidence to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and decided to play constructive role while sitting in opposition benches. “We would not play role of such Opposition, as it was in Former Government, and vowed to work for the welfare of nation and development of the country, he said.
Despite our cooperation with Government, Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhary Pervez Elahi said, unfortunately, Former Chief Minister Sindh Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Former Federal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afghan Khan Niazi were manhandled in Sindh and Lahore respectively.
He held Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) responsible for this instead of caretaker Government. All happened through a well thought conspiracy, he said, adding that, innocent people were killed in Karachi when Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) brought out rally in our favour in Karachi the other day. Announcing to continue boycott of the Nation Assembly, he asked Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to take strict action against those who were involved in the incidents.
The combined Opposition has said that the democratic forces is inviting dictatorship in the country by negating the public mandate, adding that, efforts are underway to spread politics of revenge and anarchy in streets and cities.
“Conspiracies are being hitched to sabotage the process of national reconstitution. Opposition is in favour of democracy in the country”, this was stated by leaders of Combined opposition while talking to media men after holding protest demonstration outside the Parliament house to condemn the torture against Former Chief Minister Sindh Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Former Federal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Sher Afghan Khan Niazi.
The protest demonstration was led by President Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and participated by members national assembly of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), PML-Q, PML-Functional.
Speaking on the occasion, Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said that the opposition has reservations against the incidents of violence against Dr. Sher Afghan Khan Niazi in Lahore and Arbab Ghulam Rahim in Sindh.
After smooth transaction of power, he said, the current system has been flopped totally, adding that, despite defeat in the Feb 18 elections, we had cast vote of confidence to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in order to strengthen democracy in the country. He alleged that PML-N leadership was involved in manhandling of Dr. Sher Afghan Khan Niazi in Lahore. Our offices are being attacked in various areas of the country but we would not take any undemocratic steps, he maintained.