The Hindu : International : Opposition boycotts Pakistan council meet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 25, 2004

International

International

Opposition boycotts Pakistan council meet

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 24. The inaugural meeting of Pakistan's National Security Council began here on a contentious note, with the President, Pervez Musharraf, taking `serious exception' to the Opposition's decision to stay away.

Two members of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal — Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Chief Minister of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) — boycotted the meeting, opposing Gen. Musharraf's decision to retain uniform.

Presiding, Gen. Musharraf took exception to the absence of the Leader of the Opposition, Fazlur Rehman, and the NWFP Chief Minister, Akram Durrani. It was not clear whether he would take action against them.

Gen. Musharraf said the Council was a representative body of the elected functionaries and the armed forces and that it was an ideal forum to debate strategic issues. In an obvious reference to the charges that the Council is a `super parliament', he said its recommendations were not mandatory.

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