World | Pakistan
Peoples Party finalises draft of constitution package
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has finalised a draft of a constitutional package that would be moved in the parliament alongside a resolution to reinstate the deposed judges, PPP sources said yesterday.
- By Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
- Published: 00:15 May 21, 2008
- PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will chair a meeting of the central executive committee for detailed discussion on the draft.
- Image Credit: Gulf News archive
Islamabad: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has finalised a draft of a constitutional package that would be moved in the parliament alongside a resolution to reinstate the deposed judges, PPP sources said yesterday.
The sources said the partners in the ruling coalition - Pakistan Muslim Legue-Nawaz, Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulema Islam - would be taken into confidence after the forthcoming meeting of the central executive committee of the party.
According to sources PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari would chair a meeting of the central executive committee here on Saturday for detailed discussion on the draft.
The package titled 18th Constitution Amendment Bill could be presented to the parliament by the end of the current month.
A constitutional amendment can be initiated either in the National Assembly or the Senate but it has to be passed with a two-thirds majority separately by both the houses of the parliament. A resolution for the judges' reinstatement is likely to be presented to a joint sitting of the two houses.
Extensive consultation
A PPP statement overnight said Zardari had held extensive consultation with his legal team for finalising the constitutional package. "The constitutional package is aimed at strengthening the judiciary as an institution and blocking the way for any adventurer to undermine it in future. It also ensures parliamentary supremacy in the constitutional scheme."
The sources said the package would help create a balance between the offices of the president and prime minister, by taking away existing presidential powers to appoint chiefs of army, navy and air force as well as the authority to dissolve the parliament.
The package also proposes provisions in the constitution to prosecute for treason any judges who in future validate a military take-over or suspension of the constitution.
The PML-N, which withdrew its ministers from the federal cabinet early last week over non-reinstatement of dozens of judges deposed by President Pervez Musharraf last year, has been insisting there should be no linkage between a resolution for restoration of the judges and a constitutional package.
Protest: Ex-generals to march
Retired Army generals, including some who mentored President Pervez Musharraf, are planning a long march and a sit-in before the Army House in Rawalpindi to force him to vacate so his successor as army chief can move in. "The long march, the date of which will be announced soon, is being given final touches," the News reported yesterday.
Former Army chief Gen Mirza Aslam Beg and former Inter-Services Intelligence chief Gen Hamid Gul would lead the procession that is expected to be joined by about 200 retired army officers. The move comes even as Pakistani lawyers have announced they would begin a long march June 10 to demand the restoration of the Supreme Court and High Court judges.
Musharraf had handed over the army chief's baton to Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani but cited security considerations to continue occupying the Army House in Rawalpindi.
- IANS
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