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No-trust move planned against Pak. Speaker

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD JUNE 15. Relations between the Mir Zafarullah Jamali Government and the Opposition hit a new low today with the combined Opposition deciding to move a `no confidence motion' against the National Assembly Speaker, Amir Hussain, for his alleged partisan attitude.

The Opposition parties are livid with the Speaker for his ruling on Saturday that the controversial amendments made by the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, to the Constitution are part of the statute. In a day of swift developments, the Pakistan National Assembly on Saturday created history of sorts by approving Rs. 80,500-crore budget in a span of one week amid Opposition boycott. For all the rhetoric and anger, the Opposition camp appears to have been caught unaware by the developments. With the Assembly adjourned sine die, it is not clear as to when the Opposition would get an opportunity to move a no-trust motion against the Speaker. Even assuming they requisition a special session, the Speaker (the ruling combine nominee) faces little danger as the Jamali party has comfortable simple majority in the House.

Some of the political parties such as the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) have been thundering that they would go any extent on the issue of LFO (suggesting they are prepared even for dissolution of the House). But others such as the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) may not be so enthusiastic as they have a stake in two provincial governments. The ruling combine did not stop with the passage of the Finance Minister and the Speaker's ruling on the contentious LFO. It approved a resolution expressing complete faith in the leadership of Gen. Musharraf and wished him all success for his four-nation trip, including to the United States.

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