Pakistani President Dismisses Provincial Legislature
The nation’s president dismissed the legislature of a southern province Thursday, two days after firing Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her government.
Bhutto, her Cabinet and the National Assembly were ousted Tuesday after President Farooq Leghari accused her of sponsoring police death squads, allowing rampant corruption and bringing Pakistan to the brink of bankruptcy.
No reason was given for the removal of the Sindh provincial legislature Thursday, but it was widely believed that Leghari will use his constitutional authority to dismiss all four provincial assemblies. Two assemblies, including Sindh, were controlled by Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party.
A caretaker government has been established to run the country until elections are held Feb. 3.
An interim governor also took over the Sindh legislature. The province and its capital, Karachi, were focal points of Bhutto’s dismissal. Leghari accused her of sanctioning attacks on political foes and the Mohajir National Movement in the city.
Bhutto has vehemently denied the accusations.
Bhutto’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari, is being held for alleged corruption at a detention house.
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