By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Pakistan Peoples Party leader Asif Ali Zardari unveiled a package proposing a string of amendments in the Constitution, seeking transfer of key presidential powers to the prime minister.
“The article 58-2(B) will go,” the PPP co-chairman told a packed media conference here at the Zardari House on Saturday.
He said PPP stands by its words to uphold the majesty of parliament which is a pre-requisite for democracy.
Minister for Law and Justice Farooq H. Naek briefly described the salient features of the package.
“We have proposed transfer of powers including authority to dissolve assembly from president to the prime minister,” Farooq Naek said.
“Similarly, the power to appoint provincial governers should also be given to the PM,” he added.
“In addition, the package contains a bar that a person cannot be elected president of the country more than two times,” Naek said.
“We have also proposed amendment in Article six of the Constitution under which the judge who will validate the suspension or abrogation of the Constitution would cease to function as judge and we have recommended high treason trial against those violating their oath,” he said.
The Minister said to give minorities the representation in the upper House of the Parliament to minorities, each province will send one minority representative to the Senate.
An Article baring criticism of judges and services’ chiefs is also proposed to be abolished, Naek said.
The package suggests that formation of caretaker government in future would take place after consultation with Speaker of the National Assembly, Speakers of the Provincial assemblies and Chairman of the Senate.
He said another amendment was for renaming North West Frontier Province (NWFP) as Pakhtoonkhwa.
“Representation of provinces in the Council for Common Interests (CCI) would be increased to get provincial autonomy on track ,” Farooq said. “We have suggested to convene meeting of CCI twice a year. Similarly, the National Finance Commission (NFC) should also meet once after three years instead of five years.”
Asif Ali Zardari said that the PPP would hold dialogue with all stakeholders including the presidency, lawyers and the coalition partners, besides seeking support of democratic forces in the world.
Zardari said he would take lawyer community into confidence and had already talked to Supreme Court Bar Association President Aitzaz Ahsan who assured cooperation.
“I have no difference of opinion with the lawyers struggling for restoration of deposed judges; even PPP itself is committed to it,” he said.
“I would also send my minister to Mian Nawaz Sharif, Asfandyar Wali Khan and Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to support the Constitutional Package while I shall also engage in dialogue with the President after approval of the package by the cabinet,” Zardari added.
“The package is for tomorrow’s Pakistan; to ensure solid base of democracy in future; its in line with BB’s commitment to restore true democracy and supremacy of the parliament,” Zardari added.
In reply to a question, he said PPP only has a working relationship with the presidency. “We want to walk him away, rather than impeach him,” he said.
Zardari said that abolishment of concurrent list was also part of the package as promised in the 1973 Constitution.
Replying to another query, the PPP co-chairman said their party’s economic wing was working an Alaska type model for Balochistan under which all ownership rights of the mineral resources and sea ports of the province would be handed over to the Baloch people.”