{M-H-O} Zardari just a step away from losing powers

Zardari just a step away from losing powers

Omer Farooq Khan, TNN, Apr 3, 2010, 02.00am IST

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government on Friday tabled a slew of constitutional reforms in parliament which will strip the president's office of key powers. The move is expected to strengthen parliamentary democracy in the country. Its draft was presented by chairman of the parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms, senator Mian Raza Rabbani, amid desk-thumping.

Constitutional amendments in Pakistan require a two-thirds majority both in the Senate and National Assembly. But, since all the major political parties have signed the draft of the 18th amendment, it's expected to secure a two-thirds majority in parliament. The 18th amendment will nullify the controversial 8th amendment introduced by Gen Zia-ul Haq in 1985.

Under the reforms, the president would no longer have the power to dismiss the PM, dissolve parliament or appoint the head of the country's armed forces. Prime ministers and chief ministers would no longer be barred from office after two terms, which will allow, for instance, PML(N) boss Nawaz Sharif, toppled by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999, to become PM again.

The package will be debated by legislators and Zardari will address a joint session of parliament on Monday. It would be third such address by Zardari in the last one-and-a-half year. In his first annual address to parliament, Zardari had said that he wanted a package of constitutional reforms designed to restore the 1973 constitution to its original form.

''I congratulate the nation on this 18th amendment,'' said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the National Assembly. "Today's historic. Some people may think that the prime minister will be stronger. But in fact these amendments will strengthen institutions."

The reforms also transfer greater autonomy to the provinces and will rename NWFP as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa � meaning ''Khyber side of the land of Pakhtuns''. NWFP was a name given to the Pashtun-dominated areas by the British in 1901. The renaming of the province has been a long-standing demand of the ethnic Pashtuns.

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