By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan’s new parliament, dominated by anti-Musharraf parties, was inaugurated on Monday amid fears of tension between presidency and the new government.
A total of 328 members of National Assembly, the lower house of the parliament, took oath of membership and offered prayers for the slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
The inaugural session of the 13th National Assembly was witnessed among others by Co-Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from the visitors’ gallery.
The oath was administered by Speaker of National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain.
The Assembly will elect Speaker and Deputy Speaker likely on March 19.
Analysts believe that the parliament will head to tension with the President when it will try to scrap his powers and also to adopt resolution for the restoration of deposed judges.
President Musharraf had sacked the Chief Justice and 61 senior judges on November 3rd when he proclaimed emergency.
Nawaz Sharif told reporters at the parliament house that countdown for the judges restoration deadline started on Monday.
Presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi has ruled out restoration of judges, the statement is clearly indicating differences between the presidency and the next government.
The victors plan to scrap powers of the president to dissolve parliament, this will also be a bone of contention between the two sides.
The issue of the army dominant National Security Council will also be a challenge for the new government, as the victors plan to abolish the Council.
The issue of so-called war on terrorism is a major issue in the country and many believe that President Musharraf’s policies proved to be counter productive for him.
The new political leadership wants the issue of insurgency in the tribal area to be resolved through dialogue rather than use of force, used during the rule of President Musharraf.