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| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistani MPs move to curb presidential powers |
| 2010-04-09 |
| Pakistani lawmakers have unanimously passed a series of constitutional amendments which will strip the president of key powers. The bill was approved by 292 votes in favor and no votes against in Islamabad's national assembly on Thursday. The amendments now need approval of the senate, or upper house, to become law. A dozen political groups, including the ruling People's Party, had proposed the move. Lawmakers believe the move will bolster parliamentary democracy weakened by periods of military rule. President Asif Ali Zardari, who inherited absolute powers from his predecessor, the country's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, would be the main victim of the proposed constitutional reforms as the amendments would effectively turn him into a ceremonial head of state. The president will lose his power to dismiss the prime minister and dissolve parliament. The draft amendment would transfer some of Zardari's powers to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and strip the president of his power to appoint army, navy and air chiefs and high-ranking judges. The amendments fulfill a long-standing demand by the opposition, which has long criticized Zardari for dragging his feet on relinquishing the powers. Gilani welcomed the sweeping constitutional reforms. "The impossible has been made possible by the house today," Gilani said. |
| Posted by:Fred |