World | Pakistan
Coalition prepares to hobble Musharraf
The ruling coalition aims to push a set of constitutional changes through parliament in the coming weeks to clip President Pervez Musharraf's powers to dismiss the government, the law minister said.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:08 May 22, 2008
Islamabad: The ruling coalition aims to push a set of constitutional changes through parliament in the coming weeks to clip President Pervez Musharraf's powers to dismiss the government, the law minister said.
After seizing control in a bloodless coup as a general in 1999, Musharraf held on to power for more than eight years until the February polls, when the defeat of allies left him isolated without parliamentary support.
The new government, led by the party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, aims to curb Musharraf's authority, already diminished by his resignation from the powerful position of army chief in November. Bhutto's widower Asif Ali Zardari made a pact with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to restore the judges sacked by Musharraf in November.
Sharif, who pulled his party out of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's cabinet last week to protest over Zardari's foot-dragging, wants the judges brought back immediately and unconditionally.
Zardari wants to link their reinstatement to a constitutional amendment that Law Minister Farooq Naek says has now been prepared.
More powers for PM
The thrust of the changes will be to give the elected prime minister more power, and make the judiciary more independent.
"We have proposed repeal of the 58-2 (b) to maintain balance of power between the president and prime minister," Naek said, referring to the clause that gives the president the right to dismiss a government.
Naek said Zardari would consult his own party and allies, including Sharif, before the package is put before parliament.
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