ANP demands direct signing by President: The Nation

[Surmount]

ANP demands direct signing by President

By: Shamim Shahid
Published: The Nation April 13, 2009

PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD — The Advisory Committee of ANP while opposing the PPP leadership’s decision of referring Nizam-e-Adl Regulations draft to the Parliament, has demanded of President Asif Ali Zardari to go for its early signing. The ANP Advisory Committee held its meeting at the Chief Minister’s House with its Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel in chair in Peshawar on Sunday. The meeting discussed in depth the situation arising after the delay in signing of Nizam-e-Adl Regulations.

The ANP Advisory Committee through a resolution welcomed peace agreement with Maulana Sufi Mohammad of Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM) and termed it a positive step towards return of peace and stability in Malakand Division, particularly in Swat. The meeting observed that the peace agreement resulted in sharp decline, violence, terrorism and destruction in Swat.

The ANP Advisory Committee regretted that PPP was delaying implementation of Nizam-e-Adl Regulations adding that being a coalition partner, ANP leadership was not taken into confidence in this respect.
The meeting demanded of the President to go for its early signing otherwise the ANP leadership would review its stay in coalition.

Earlier, the President referred the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, 2009, to Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani while advising him to consider it for placing before the Parliament for debate.

After remaining silent over the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation draft for around two months, the President has finally put the ball in the court of the elected representatives by referring the matter to the Prime Minister.

The President, who is also the Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party, called a meeting of the parliamentarians from the restive NWFP to take their inputs on the situation in the province and the implications of the proposed Nizam-e-Adl Regulation 2009 in Swat, sources close to the Presidency said.
Awami National Party, the ruling party in the NWFP, Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Muhammadi and Taliban are waiting for the approval of the draft for its enforcement as agreed upon around two months back. According to some reports, ANP is pressing the central government hard to get the draft passed as soon as possible.

The PPP led federal government was showing reluctance to sign the draft regulation as it was linking the enforcement of the regulation with the return of complete peace in Malakand Division, particularly in Swat Valley, which has witnessed the bloodiest acts of violence during the last two and half years.