Islamabad: An assertive Pakistan Premier
Yousuf Raza Gilani has asked a panel framing recommendations
on clipping Presidential powers to "fast track" its work,
close on the heels of Asif Ali Zardari shelving plans to ask
Parliament to ratify a controversial law that gave him amnesty
in graft cases.
Gilani has asked a parliamentary committee to speed up
finalisation of recommendations for important constitutional
amendments, including the scrapping of provisions that empower
President to dismiss Prime Minister and dissolve Parliament.
Zardari dropped a move to get Parliament to endorse the
National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) -- a law passed by
former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to scrap corruption
cases against leaders of the now ruling PPP -- after several
political parties, including the opposition PML-N, said they
would oppose it.
Amidst reports of growing differences between Zardari and
Gilani, the Premier told the National Assembly or lower house
of Parliament yesterday that his party is committed to
implementing the Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed by the PPP
and PML-N in 2006.
Musharraf had assumed several powers of the Prime
Minister, including authority to dissolve Parliament and
appoint the armed forces` chiefs.
Bureau Report
