Sunday, June 5, 2011

PML-N, Q dissenters to block budget passage

ISLAMABAD - The PML-N has decided to give tough time to the PPP-led ruling coalition during the budget session in an effort to make it difficult for the government to get the budget passed by the parliament.
In this regard, a delegation of dissident senators belonging to the PML-Q Saturday called on Nawaz Sharif and assured the PML-N chief of their support on various issues of national importance.
Among those who called on Nawaz included Senator Tariq Azeem, Senator Naeem Chattha and Senator Javed Ali Shah. The PML-Q senators had formed an independent group after their parent party recently joined the PPP-led coalition.
Speaking to the PML-Q senators, Nawaz said that his party would not give free hand to the government on budget which offered nothing to the common man. The delegation also announced supporting the PML-N strategy to expose the rulers on the budget.
Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and other PML-N senior leaders also attended the meeting.
Separately, warning the PPP-led ruling coalition and the PPP AJK Chapter of serious repercussions, PML-N chief Muhammad Nawaz Sharif made it clear that rigging in the AJK elections would not be tolerated.
He was talking to a delegation of AJK leaders headed by Sardar Sikandar Hayat who called on him here at the Punjab House. It was decided that Nawaz Sharif would himself visit various parts of AJK and would meet people to forestall alleged government plans to rig the forthcoming elections.
He was informed about fears being raised by his party in AJK that the PPP and its allies had hatched a plan to rig the forthcoming elections. Reacting to these concerns, Nawaz said he himself would visit various parts of AJK to know the facts. He assured the AJK party leaders that the PML-N would leave no stone unturned in foiling the plans to temper with the public mandate.
According to party sources, it was also decided that Nawaz Sharif, during his visits to AJK, would also address a number of public meetings organised by the party candidates.
It was also decided to form various election committees under the chairmanship of Khawaja Saad Rafique to oversea the AJK elections and to secure support of the people to ensure victory of the PML-N-backed candidates.
Several senior party leaders including Senator Raja Zafarul Haq also attended the meeting.