By IANS,
Islamabad : A landmark bill drastically curtailing Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s powers that the lower house of parliament has passed could not be introduced in the upper house Friday as the required two-third majority of members was not present.
The 18th constitution amendment bill, transferring the bulk of the president’s powers to the prime minister’s office, will now be tabled in the Senate on Monday, Online news agency reported.
When the Senate assembled Friday, the lack of two-thirds of the members prompted Chairman Farooq H. Naek to adjourn the house till 5 p.m. Monday, when the 18th amendment will be taken up.
Naek also directed Leader of House Nayyar Hussain Bukhari to ensure attendance of senators at its next session to approve the bill, after which it will be sent to Zardari for his signature.
He also expressed annoyance over the absence of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan from the house and directed him to attend the next session.
The National Assembly, or the lower house of parliament, Thursday abolished the president’s special powers, including the right to dissolve parliament, after it unanimously approved the termination of the 17th Amendment to the constitution.
“The impossible has been made possible by the house today,” Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told lawmakers after they voted unanimously in favour of the 18th constitution amendment.
Parliament is “now sovereign” and “we will now be answerable to both the National Assembly and the Senate,” Geo TV quoted him as saying.
“We have been saying we will go to the Westminster-style parliamentary system… Today we removed the anomalies. We are giving you a parliamentary form of government,” he added.
The prime minister said more amendments would be brought if need arose, Geo TV report said.
“The unanimous passage of the 18th Amendment proves parliament is not a rubber stump,” he said.
Last week, the political parties had approved the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms.
The 17th Amendment to the constitution, introduced by former president Pervez Musharraf, gave the president sweeping powers, including those to dissolve the national and provincial assemblies and appoint the service chiefs.
On Thursday, the National Assembly also decided to rename the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Khyber-Pakhtoonkhaw.