The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Ex-Finance and Planning Ministers and noted economists of the country at a roundtable discussion yesterday cautioned the Caretaker Government against following foreign prescriptions in policymaking process.

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam, however, refuted their pleas and said that the Government could not make its policy in isolation of the rest of the world.

The economists also suggested the Government to utilise domestic talents, involve political parties in policymaking process and to be “transparent and accountable to people.

Some of them stressed that the Government’s policy initiatives should have “political mandate,” and also urged all to be aware so that democratic politics of the nation does not turn into “rich-men’s game.”

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, as part of its Golden Jubilee Celebration programme organised the roundtable discussion on Policy Makers and Policies: From the Past into the Future with Finance Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr AB Mirza Md Azizul Islam in the chair.

Former Finance and Planning ministers or advisers of caretaker government were the panel discussants at the roundtable while noted economists of the country took part in the open-floor season.

Renowned Economist and former Adviser of the Caretaker Government Professor Rehman Sobhan said that “political mandate” for the government’s policy formulation was important

“Political parties should be involved in policy making process,” he said adding, “Political parties, after being elected to power, will be legally accountable to implement the present steps if they are made involved now.”

Another former Finance Minister M Saeduzzaman supported the confection of Prof. Sobhan. “Political mandate for the decision maker is very very important,” he added.

Professor Rehman Sobhan, however, suggested to be vigilant about distortion of democratic politics saying, “democratic politics should not be allowed to be rich men’s game.”

He said that accountability and transparency should be ensured seriously. Unless the Caretaker Government ensures transparency, its works will not be sustainable.

“Every act of the Government should be transparent to people. Decision making agenda should be available on websites,” Prof. Sobhan said.

He sharply criticised the government for indiscriminate privatisation according to suggestions made by donor agencies and said that privatisation, if necessary, should be target oriented. “I am not against the privatisation, but this should be done under a policy,” he told the meet

Addressing the Finance Adviser and Chairperson of the roundtable discussion he said “This (the roundtable) should not be the token gesture to rationalise your steps. Talented persons should be involved in policy formulation.”

Professor Rehman Sobhan said that the agenda of policy makers should not be to reduce poverty; rather the agenda should be to eradicate poverty.

He emphasised on distribution of production among people and suggested that 20 per cent of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), issued by various companies, should be reserved for poor so that people become owners of it

M Sayeduzzaman underscored the need for construction of a second Dhaka-Chitagong highway to connect the capital to the port city. “This can be an elevated express highway if it’s needed for development of the country,” he said.

Abul Mal Abdul Muhit emphasized the mobilization of domestic resources for development financing.

Ex-Planning Minister Air Vice Martial (Rtd) AK Khondokar emphasised on checking population growth, ensuring proper education and training for future development of the nation.

Former caretaker-government adviser Hafizuddin said that the economy of the country should have a clear-cut direction. The policy should be understandable to the people.”

He said that donor agencies pressurised him to pursue their policies when he was an adviser. “I set aside those proposals and suggested them to wait for an elected government to take oath, as the Caretaker Government had no mandate to take policy decision.”

Refuting the criticism of pursuing donor driven policies, Dr Mirza Aziz said, “You live in a world which is interconnected and globalised. You cannot make your policy isolated. So, your sovereignty in policy making is already curtailed.”

He rather said that policy making should be tempered by pragmatism and according to the needs of the time.

He said that the Government’s policy was transparent and was well articulated in his budget speech. It will become more clear in the revision of the poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSF).

BIDS director general Quazi Shahabuddin and Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) president Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, among others, also spoke on the occasion.

Musharraf can’t hold two offices after expiry of tenure: Pak SC: I’m the President till Nov 15, says Musharraf

Agencies, Islamabad

The Pakistan Supreme Court has said that President Pervez Musharraf cannot hold two offices after his term as President expires.

The apex court was hearing a petition filed by the Jamaat-e-Islami, challenging the 'President to Hold Another Office Act 2004'.

"I think Musharraf cannot hold another office when his term expires and (then) Article 43 would be activated," Justice Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar said.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry asked Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, counsel for Musharraf, to tell the court when the President's term ends.

Pirzada said that he would seek Musharraf's instructions before mentioning the date his term ends.

Akram Sheikh, counsel for the petitioner, argued that all Presidents other than Musharraf were elected under Article 41 of the Constitution and that the state was now being run by a "de facto" President

Sheikh submited that Musharraf could not hold two offices simultaneously and the relaxation given to him for holding the offices of President and Army Chief under the 17th Amendment had ended on December 31, 2004.

He argued that Act VII of the 'President to Hold Another Office Act 2004', under which Musharraf was allowed to keep both offices beyond December 31, 2004, ran against Article 63(1)(d) of the Constitution.

Sheikh said that person-specific legislation was illegal, and that's what the 17th Amendment was, as it benefited only one person - Musharraf, the Daily Times reported.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan was told Thursday that General Pervez Musharraf's term as president would expire on Nov 15 and that he would remain in uniform till a new army chief was appointed.

Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Counsel for President Musharraf, provided this information to the apex court a day after he was asked when Musharraf's presidential term would expire.

In a writen statement, Pirzada told the court that Musharraf would remain president till Nov 15.

He also informed the apex court that Musharraf would remain in uniform after Nov 15 till a new army chief was appointed to replace him.

A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, is hearing a petition from religious party Jamat-e-Islami challenging an act of parliament that allows General Musharraf to hold two offices of president and army chief.

The parliament had passed a law called 'President to hold another office Act 2004', under which President Musharraf was allowed to hold two offices.

The lawyer for Jamat-e-Islami argued that the Act of parliament 2004 to allow General Musharraf to hold two offices should be declared malafide and unconstitutional.

He said the president's holding another office is even ultra vires of the constitution.

Hundreds of lawyers rallied and boycoted courts across Pakistan on Thursday in a renewed campaign to force President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to step down, while supporters of former premier Nawaz Sharif prepared for his promised return from exile.

Courts in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Queta, Islamabad and Rawalpindi were largely deserted, witnesses said. In Lahore, about 500 lawyers wearing black armbands marched on a road chanting slogans against Musharraf. Dozens of lawyers rallied in Queta chanting "Go Musharraf, Go!"

Lawyers have been at the forefront of a campaign against military rule in Pakistan.

Musharraf has dominated Pakistani politics since seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and became a key U.S. ally after the Sept 11 atacks. But his authority has waned since a botched atempt to fire the country's top judge in March triggered protests and widespread calls for an end to military rule.

"This is the second phase of our protest, and God willing, we will again be successful," said Mohammed Azhar, a spokesman for the Supreme Court Bar Association. The association is the top representative body of lawyers in Pakistan.

"We are organizing peaceful rallies today against the dictatorial rule of Musharraf," he said.

Despite the protests, a Supreme Court bench in Islamabad headed by the chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, heard legal challenges Thursday to Musharraf's dual role as president and army chief and his eligibility to run for another presidential term.

Musharraf is expected to seek a new five-year term from lawmakers by mid-October, but has yet to make a public commitment to resign as army chief. Many experts say that to keep his uniform - the main source of his power - beyond 2007 would violate the Constitution.

Political tensions are rising in Pakistan. Sharif, the prime minister who was ousted by Musharraf in his coup, says he will return from exile on Monday to challenge Musharraf's bid to extend his rule and to contest parliamentary elections due by January 2008.

Musharraf is trying to strike a deal with another exiled former prime minister planning a comeback, Benazir Bhuto, that could lead to them sharing power.

Sharif supporters are planning to converge on Islamabad to welcome him Monday, but there are expectations that authorities may try and block them. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party claims that authorities have already rounded up at least 250 of its supporters around the country.

The PML-N in North West Frontier Province plans to rent a bulldozer to clear any barriers from the Atock Bridge that supporters must pass on their way from the province to the capital, said Pirsabir Shah, president of the group in the province.

In the past, Punjab police have used sandbags and shipping containers to obstruct processions of anti-government protesters.

"The arrival of Nawaz Sharif is a big event in the history of the country," Shah told The Associated Press. "We will not tolerate any hurdle in the way of a peaceful procession of political workers."

The Supreme Court ruled last month that Sharif, who served twice as prime minister in the 1990s, was free to enter Pakistan and that his return should not be obstructed, but government lawyers have suggested Sharif could face unspecified legal action if he comes back.

In the North Waziristan border region, a Pakistan army helicopter opened fire on a vehicle carrying suspected militants near the Afghan border Thursday, killing six people inside, intelligence officials said.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the army to atack in a village near Miran Shah, the region's main town. The officials said local authorities were trying to identity the slain men.

Pakistan is a key ally of the United States in its war on terror, and has deployed about 90,000 troops in its tribally governed border regions to fight Taliban and al-Qaida militants who have found refuge there.

The security forces also often target hideouts of local militants in the region for sheltering foreigners.