Swat deal contradicts '73 Constitution: MQM

KARACHI - The MQM leadership has expressed serious reservations over the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation (NAR) in Swat and termed it contradictory to the 1973 Constitution. The party was also planning to explore all possible courses of action against this unconstitutional development. It has decided to lodge its protest on the issue during a meeting with President Asif Zardari but would not part ways with the PPP-led govt. MQM has decided to invite Ulema and Mashaikh belonging to all schools of thought at a conference to seek their expert opinion on the enforcement of the Nizam-e-Adal Regulation so that we may chalk out future line of action, said deputy convenor MQM Rabita Committee, Dr Farooq Sattar, while talking to newsmen after a meeting with his partys office bearers and legislators. Members of the Rabita Committee, ministers belonging to the party and its legislators in the national and provincial assemblies, Senators, City Nazim and the MQM office bearers also attended the meeting. Earlier, MQM central leadership had summoned its lawmakers, who were attending National Assembly session, and discussed with them the ways to respond against approval of Nizam-e-Adal Regulation. Addressing the meeting on telephone from London, party chief Altaf Hussain said the MQM would never accept the kalashnikov and bamboo-stick Sharia. He said that approval of the NAR from the National Assembly was violation of the 1973 Constitution. Altaf Hussain said it was aimed at destroying religious harmony in the country and added that MQM would call a meeting of Ulema and Mashaikh against implementation of the NAR. He said that Nizam-e-Adal Regulation was not the Islamic Sharia rather it was the Sharia of Taliban and MQM would mobilise masses against the latters enforcement in Swat. Faroo Sattar said that MQM disagreed with the government on this issue but would not part ways with the ruling coalition. The 1973 Constitution has allowed all Muslim citizens to lead their lives according to the teachings of their schools of thought but the NAR negates this basic principle of the Constitution, Farooq Sattar said. Referring to the supporters of Talibans Sharia in Parliament, he said that these forces hadnt condemned the suicide bombings in Jamrood Mosque and at the Chakwal Imambargah. He said that approval of the NAR was tantamount to surrender to the forces of obscurantism. Now the Taliban may demand similar system for Buner, Chitral and other areas at gunpoint, he added He said that this was an agreement between the NWFP government and the banned TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad but federal government tabled a resolution in the National Assembly without consulting the MQM. He urged the government to accept the MQMs proposal and grant autonomy to the provinces. He warned that the enforcement of Nizam-e-Adal regulation in Swat would yield horrible consequences for the whole country.

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