Islamabad, July 26: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has indicated he may withdraw the two proposed amendments empowering the president to appoint Prime Minister and reduce the term of Parliament, pointing out that only "essential and immediate" amendments to the constitution would be finalised. Musharraf said the rest of the amendments would be kept pending for the civilian parliament to debate after it is restored following the October general elections.

"We feel there is some opposition against the proposed amendment which gives powers to the president to appoint the leader of the house. Therefore, we are considering withdrawing it," he told diplomats, intellectuals and legal experts in the studios of radio Pakistan yesterday. The government would also withdraw the amendment that seeks to reduce the term of the national assembly from five to four years and that of the senator from six to four years, he said.

He also assured that members of the majority party in the national assembly would have the right to choose the leader of the house.

Referring to the 11 years of democracy that preceded his military takeover in 1999, Musharraf said certain essential amendments were necessary "to undo the bad experience of the past." Claiming that the response of the public to the proposed amendments "lends support to the government to go for minimal essential amendments to the constitution," he said these would be made "logically and pragmatically with an open mind."

Bureau Report