Islamabad, May 12: Hard-line Islamic opposition parties today demanded that Pakistan's prime minister change the constitution to strip away President Pervez Musharraf's power to dismiss Parliament and the prime minister. A coalition of six radical Islamic groups called Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal or United Action Forum made the demand ahead of a key meeting later today aimed at ending a 12-week standoff between elected lawmakers and the country's military president.
The coalition also said it would withdraw its demand that Musharraf step down as head of the army if he sets his own deadline for resigning from the post, said Hafiz Hussain Ahmad, a religious leader and member of Parliament. A two-thirds majority is required in Parliament to change the constitution and take away any of the president's powers.
"We have asked the government to come up with a clear position about the powers of Musharraf to dismiss the parliament and the prime minister," Ahmad said in an interview.
Ahmad is part of an 11-member committee formed by Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali on April 19 to discuss ways to end the impasse in Parliament over whether the president wields too much power. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said today he was optimistic the government and the Islamic opposition will be able to resolve their differences. Bureau Report