Threats delay Musharraf address

Threats delay Musharraf address

By Zaffar Abbas
BBC correspondent in Islamabad

Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf has been advised by the governing coalition to delay his address to the joint session of parliament.

Critics want Musharraf to stand for election

The move follows threats by the combined opposition to disrupt the proceedings.

Earlier it was said that the joint sitting might take place next week, possibly on 21 April.

However, the opposition's vigorous campaign against the controversial amendments made in the constitution, and President Musharraf's refusal to undo them, has created a political deadlock.

It has been just over six months since the parliamentary elections and Pakistan is once again going through a deep political crisis.

Pressure

President Musharraf has refused to take back his constitutional reforms package.

On the other hand, the opposition parties seem determined to keep up the pressure and say they will continue to disrupt parliamentary proceedings until the issue is resolved.

The uproar during Tuesday's session of the National Assembly was the first clear sign of the opposition's determination.

Their combined grouping - comprising the Islamic alliance MMA, Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party and the PML (N) - often plan to agitate whenever National Assembly or Senate sessions are held.

Assessing the opposition's mood, leader of the governing Muslim League-Q, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, says that in this situation it would not be possible to hold a joint session of parliament.

But observers say this does not solve the government's problem.

Pakistan's constitution clearly states that after the parliamentary elections or early in the year, the head of the state shall address the joint sitting.

No escape

This marks the start of the parliamentary year.

Protests have taken place against controversial reforms

President Musharraf knows there is no escape and at some point he will have to go before the parliament and make a speech.

But he is also aware that disruption by the opposition can undermine his authority, both as president and the chief of the army.

In recent weeks, the government has made attempts to persuade some of the opposition parties to accept the constitutional package, known as the Legal Framework Order (LFO).

So far all such moves have failed.

Although People's Party leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim admits that some of the LFO clauses are positive and acceptable to the opposition, he insists only parliament has the authority to make such amendments.

Also, opposition parties want President Musharraf to quit the post of army chief and get himself elected and they are not prepared to give the president the power to dissolve parliament.

Senior government ministers have now started to say the opposition's stubborn attitude is a threat to the entire parliamentary system.

But opposition members put the blame entirely on the ruling coalition and the president - and there seems to be no immediate end to this deadlock.