M A I N   N E W S

Lathi charge on Pakistan MPs, 12 held

Islamabad, May 28
The Pakistani police lathicharged and detained around 12 opposition lawmakers for the second day in a row today when they tried to force their way into the local assembly in Lahore as part of their agitation against President Pervez Musharraf’s constitutional amendments.

The police prevented 27 lawmakers and other opposition workers from entering the assembly building in Lahore and resorted to lathi charge when they refused to relent, reports from Lahore said.

The MPs were also briefly detained when they defied the Punjab Assembly Speaker Afzal Sahi’s decision to bar the entry of 27 lawmakers on the ground that they obstructed and hampered the proceedings.

Official television reported that the assembly later passed a resolution criticising the opposition agitation on the constitutional amendments. The resolution moved by a ruling party member also said that General Musharraf’s continuation as President and Chief of Army was “inevitable” and necessary for the progress of the country.

As the trouble spread, General Musharraf held consultations with Prime Minister Mir Jafarullah Khan Jamali last night to discuss a way out.

Meanwhile, the Islamist alliance Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal last night resolved to continue its agitation and asked Mr Jamali to convene a meeting of the leaders of top political parties to reach an agreement.

“The alliance desires that the Prime Minister should convene the meeting of the party heads as was agreed in the government-opposition committee on the LFO,” senior MMA leader Liaqat Baluch told reporters. PTI