All parties reject Musharraf's moves

Opposition parties yesterday denounced the constitutional amendments enforced by military ruler President General Pervez Musharraf, hoping that the parliament emerging from the October elections would dismantle the "dictatorial measures".

Musharraf introduced the crucial change to the suspended 1973 constitution on Wednesday, declaring that the future National Assembly would have no authority to repeal or tinker with the package.

Under the amendments Musharraf will remain president and army chief for an additional five years with discretionary power to dissolve the assembly and a watchdog National Security Council led by him would oversee the performance of the elected prime minister.

"We do not accept this fait accompli dictatorial package," said Alliance for Restoration of Democracy leader Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan. "All major political parties, lawyers' associations, human rights organizations and other civil society bodies reject these amendments," he said.

He said pro-democracy parties "stand committed" to undo the system "imposed by the military junta" once the parliament was in place. The ARD leader, however, underlined the difficulties confronting the parties because he alleged the regime would indulge in "massive rigging to bring about a docile assembly."

Musharraf on Wednesday promised a "level playing field" for all parties to contest the polls, but reaffirmed the ban against former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, both living in exile abroad.

He said the reshaped system would prevent derailment of democracy as happened in the last decade when four elected governments were abruptly dismissed because of corruption and misrule.

It would also block military intervention, he underlined, saying: "To keep the army out you have to get them in."

Benazir's Pakistan People's Party said no individual had the right to make amendments to the constitution.

The regime "has resorted to massive emasculation of the constitution to load the dice against civil society, political parties and the institutions of democracy," the party said in a statement.

"The PPP believes that the regime, despite its machinations is mortally afraid of an assertive parliament coming into being which will not accept the imposed amendments."

Sharif's PML said Musharraf had reneged on his promises to the nation and the international community to restore the constitution and transfer power to elected representatives.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement rejected the constitutional amendments and said it would create instability and fuel friction among the provinces.

"President Pervez Musharraf had promised decentralisation and devolution of power, but these amendments are contrary to his promises," Dr Farooq Sattar, a central leader of the MQM, told Gulf News.

Sattar said no individual alone has the right to amend the constitution. If the country needed a new constitution, it should have been done through Parliament, he said.

The MQM dominates the urban parts of southern Sindh province, including Karachi.

Sattar said centralisation of power by the president would add to the prevailing sense of deprivation among the smaller provinces, which accuse the bigger Punjab province of getting lion's share in the country's resources.

"These amendments will cause instability and uncertainty and result in friction among state institutions. I don't think that the new parliament will be able to complete its term," he said.

The Muttahida Mahaz-e-Amal (MMA) swore to "secure enough strength in parliament to set aside the changes made".

The MMA spokesman said "no one can stop parliament from playing its due role, and we will fight against the amendments made".

The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan, also condemned the amendments, indicating that the party had virtually ended its brief period of alignment with the regime.

In contrast, the PML-QA said the amendments would enable "sustainable democracy" to take hold in the country, while the pro-government Grand National Alliance (GNA) also welcomed the changes.

A joint meeting of representatives of Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association (PSCBA), Pakistan Bar Council, Punjab Bar Council and Lahore High Court Bar association, rejected the amendments.

PSCBA president Hamid Khan said the lawyer community would not challenge the amendments at the judiciary because it did not expect impartiality from it.

"Musharraf has taken draconian measures to subvert parliamentary democracy," he said, adding that even in 1985 then military ruler Zia-ul-Haq had to get indemnity from the parliament when he partially restored civilian rule.

"There is no room for a military role in governance in civilian democratic setup. We will mobilise public opinion against the amendments."