Jamali removed for opposing operation in Balochistan

LAHORE: Former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali was removed from office because he opposed the current operation in Balochistan, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Deputy Secretary General Hafiz Hussain Ahmad said at a press conference on Saturday.

He said though Shaukat Aziz was a technocrat, as prime minister he would not be more then a personal servant to General Pervez Musharraf and the whole parliamentary system might be at stake. “The ruling benches will play the opposition’s role for him and the opposition benches will enjoy the drama in parliament,” he said.

Mr Ahmad said there had now been three prime ministers under Gen Musharraf showed that his polices had failed, “not just at the political level, but also within the army”. He said tension would increase between the centre and provinces, and between ethnic and religious groups. He said the Pakistan Army’s operation in Balochistan would cause political and social problems in the country. Mr Jamali had opposed this move and was removed. “He was not brave enough to take a stand against such moves,” he said.

Mr Ahmad said the MMA had not asked Gen Musharraf to leave the office of chief of army staff (COAS), just that he should not be president at the same time. “Now he is committed to leaving the COAS office and should fulfil the promise,” he said. He said it was Sheikh Rasheed who had suggested that Gen Musharraf announce the date he would step down as COAS on television, so he would be responsible if Gen Musharraf broke his word. He said the MMA would launch a massive protest movement if Gen Musharraf stayed in both offices.

He hoped that coordination between the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the MMA would increase after the joint boycott of the prime minister’s election. staff report

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