Washington: Pakistan Army has a very strong
role in the country`s policy, despite restoration of
democratic rule in the country, a top US envoy has said.
"....The military in Pakistan has a very strong role in
policy, which is traditional. Whether one likes it or not,
it`s part of it," the Special US Representative for Pakistan
and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said in an interview.
The envoy`s comments come as the Pakistan`s Parliament is
in the process of passage of the crucial constitutional
amendment which will take away unlimited powers enjoyed by the
President Asif Ali Zardari.
Referring to the amendment in an interview with the MSNBC
Holbrooke said, it will restore the supremacy of Parliament
and reduce the powers of the President, which was the most
powerful post under the previous Musharraf regime.
He said by the constitutional amendment Pakistan will
return to the Prime Ministerial system.
Holbrooke who was present in number of meetings visiting
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had with Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton and other US leaders said the main
crisis facing Pakistan was the energy crisis and economic
woes.
"Those are big deals, and we`re trying to help them. One
of the most senior people at the White House, David Lipton, is
working on this overtime. We have just had the Pakistanis
here. Secretary (of State, Hillary) Clinton will be working
very deeply on this," the envoy said.
During his meeting with Clinton and Holbrooke, the
Pakistani Prime Minister urged them to fast-track the funding
process for undertaking the up gradation of existing power
generation and transmission infrastructure to help overcome
power shortages in Pakistan.
PTI
