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Oppn lawmakers denounce Musharraf ahead of his speech at UN
Islamabad, Sept 23: Dozens of opposition lawmakers staged a demonstration today against President Gen Pervez Musharraf, saying an `unelected, unconstitutional` man has no right to speak at the United Nations.
Islamabad, Sept 23: Dozens of opposition lawmakers
staged a demonstration today against President Gen Pervez
Musharraf, saying an "unelected, unconstitutional" man has no
right to speak at the United Nations.
Musharraf is in New York and is scheduled to address the
UN General Assembly session tomorrow.
The legislators staged a sit-in near the gate of the
Pakistani Parliament building.
"Musharraf is not a constitutional president. He is a
usurper," said Raja Pervez Ashraf, an opposition member of
the national assembly, or lower house of the Parliament, to
the chants of 'no Musharraf no,' 'go Musharraf go (out)' by
fellow lawmakers.
"He (Musharraf) has trampled the constitution of Pakistan. The constitution proposes death penalty for such a man," Ashraf said.
The protesters were in front of a huge banner that read "an unelected and unconstitutional man has no right to address the united nations." Nearly 100 policemen wielding sticks looked on as the legislators demonstrated while the assembly held its session.
Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999. He held elections last October to choose a Parliament, which later chose a Prime Minister.
Musharraf, who heads the powerful military, also has decreed changes to the constitution that empower him with the authority to dismiss the Parliament and the Prime Minister.
Bureau Report
"He (Musharraf) has trampled the constitution of Pakistan. The constitution proposes death penalty for such a man," Ashraf said.
The protesters were in front of a huge banner that read "an unelected and unconstitutional man has no right to address the united nations." Nearly 100 policemen wielding sticks looked on as the legislators demonstrated while the assembly held its session.
Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999. He held elections last October to choose a Parliament, which later chose a Prime Minister.
Musharraf, who heads the powerful military, also has decreed changes to the constitution that empower him with the authority to dismiss the Parliament and the Prime Minister.
Bureau Report