Aziz takes over as Pak PM, wins confidence vote

Banker-turned-politician Shaukat Aziz, a loyalist of President Pervez Musharraf, Saturday took over as Pakistan's prime minister and won the vote of confidence in the National Assembly with the entire Opposition boycotting the proceedings, charging that his election was a 'puppet show' enacted by the military.

The 55-year-old Aziz was administered the oath of office by Musharraf at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad at a simple ceremony attended by top army officials, diplomats and the ruling alliance politicians.

Shortly after taking over, Aziz secured the vote of confidence in the 342-member National Assembly, which Friday elected him as its leader. He obtained 191 votes in a one-sided show. His cabinet will be sworn-in on

September 1.

The vote of confidence turned out to be yet another cakewalk for Aziz, the former finance minister, as the combined opposition lawmakers numbering 149 boycotted the proceedings.

"It's a puppet show. It's not politics any more as there is a direct clash of interest between the people of this country and its rulers," senior Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Chowdhary Nissar said.

Aziz, who worked for 30 years as Citibank executive, was declared elected as the leader of the House Friday against jailed opposition candidate Javed Hashmi after he obtained 191 votes.

Hashmi, president of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy as well as its constituent PML-N , is serving a 23-year prison sentence after he was convicted of defaming the army. He was permitted to contest the poll, but Speaker Amir Hussain declined to allow his presence in the House to take part in the election proceedings.

The enraged Opposition boycotted the proceedings alleging that it was 'sham' democracy.

After Aziz's swearing-in, Musharraf told newsmen that the election of Aziz spoke of excellent governance in Pakistan and augured well for the country.

Praising former prime ministers Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Shujaat Hussain who quit to pave the way for Aziz, he said, "I see this change auguring well and my expectations are that we will now have excellent governance in Pakistan."

Musharraf expressed hope that a new political culture would be introduced in the country with the election of Aziz.

"It reflects maturity of PML-Q that the transfer of power has been smooth. I am pleased at this."

Aziz, in his brief remarks, said his government would attach highest priority to good governance, further improvement of the national economy and overall better performance. "This change shows that democracy has been

strengthened in the country."

Unlike in the election of Jamali and Hussain, the Oincluding the 14-party ARD and the Islamic alliance Muttahida Majlis-e Amal closed its ranks behind Hashmi and took advantage to expose the limitations of democracy under Musharraf's Presidency.

ARD Chairman Amin Fahim charged that the civil and military bureaucracy in the country had been working in collusion to sabotage democracy and history was being repeated with frequent changes of prime ministers.

Leader of the Opposition Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the MMA, said Aziz is the third prime minister in three months after Jamali was "forced to resign by the army."

"If Hashmi was fit enough to be a candidate to contest against Aziz, then why he was not brought to the House?" Rehman asked while addressing a joint press conference with the other Opposition leaders after the election Friday.

Alleging that the army was attempting to conquer its own civilians, he criticised the military operations in south west Baluchistan where local nationalists opposed building of army cantonments.

"This army wants to conquer own civilians. They are sending troops to Balochistan, if the operation continues in Baluchistan then Balochis will have a right to defend themselves. The government must desist from confronting its own people," he said.

Hashmi's daughter and PML-N MP, Maimoona Hashmi, said that rulers were fearful of her father's presence in the House. "They vowed to make Hashmi a horrible example but in the end had to see that his (Hashmi's) cause was promoted."

Pakistan's Most Oppressed Peoples party leader, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, said the country was passing through a "most dangerous" phase where "agencies were running the country."

"We have to decide now once and for all who run the country, the army or Parliament. If not stopped in their tracks now, the army will destroy the country."