Statute changes to be made by Saturday

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf will make amendments to the 1973 constitution by August 24, Pakistani Law Minister Khalid Ranjha said yesterday.

Only essential amendments for smooth transition to civilian rule would be carried out, the minister said in an interview.

The amendments will be "state-specific and not person-specific," he said, referring to wide criticism that the proposals were designed to make the president all-powerful and turn the future parliament into a rubber stamp forum.

He said the amendments were aimed at ensuring that once democracy was restored after the October 10 elections it was able to function and sustain.

Ranjha said the proposed national security council would not have an intrusive role or authority above the parliament. The future prime minister will have full executive powers, he asserted.

Meanwhile, the election commission yesterday allotted election symbols to 17 out of around 70 political parties and groups it has cleared for contesting the October polls.

Former cricket hero Imran Khan's Tehrik-e-Insaaf got its coveted logo of bat. The second batch of parties will be allotted election symbols today and the remaining in batches during the next week, Election Commission officials said.

The electoral process has gained momentum with main parties and alliances engaged in feverish contacts to work out cooperation arrangements in constituencies of National Assembly and four Provincial Assemblies.

PML-QA and multi-party Grand National Alliance, both considered pro-government, are expected to team up against the opposition PPP Parliamentarians and PML-N.

Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA), electoral front of six main religious parties, has held talks with both PPP Parliamentarians and PML-N.