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Musharraf announces dilution of powers
New York, Sept 13: Amidst criticism from home and abroad, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has announced dilution of powers he acquired through recent constitutional amendments, saying he would give up the authority to dissolve the national assembly after the October 10 polls.
New York, Sept 13: Amidst criticism from home and
abroad, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has announced
dilution of powers he acquired through recent constitutional
amendments, saying he would give up the authority to dissolve
the national assembly after the October 10 polls.
Musharraf said he would hand over the power of dissolving
the national assembly to the National Security Council (NSC), a 12-member body comprising top civil and military officials, after the next month's polls.
"I will give up the powers to use Article 58(2)B when National Security Council (a 12-member body comprising country's top civil and military officials) is in place after October elections", he said at a dinner meeting with Pakistani-Americans. He also said "I am of the firm opinion that it must not govern and must do its own job."
His announcement followed stringent criticism specially from the US stating that it has strong reservations about his amendments which gave special powers to the president as well as the country's powerful military. Musharraf defended the formation of NSC as consultative body and said it was an important mechanism to rule out future military coups as the top brass of the defence was part of it.
"Our past experience leads us to the conclusion that to bring the army out, bring it in. So we have decided to put check on all the three power brokers, the President, the Prime Minister and the chief of army", he said. He also urged Pakistanis settled abroad to invest more in Pakistan to help the country's economy.
Bureau Report
"I will give up the powers to use Article 58(2)B when National Security Council (a 12-member body comprising country's top civil and military officials) is in place after October elections", he said at a dinner meeting with Pakistani-Americans. He also said "I am of the firm opinion that it must not govern and must do its own job."
His announcement followed stringent criticism specially from the US stating that it has strong reservations about his amendments which gave special powers to the president as well as the country's powerful military. Musharraf defended the formation of NSC as consultative body and said it was an important mechanism to rule out future military coups as the top brass of the defence was part of it.
"Our past experience leads us to the conclusion that to bring the army out, bring it in. So we have decided to put check on all the three power brokers, the President, the Prime Minister and the chief of army", he said. He also urged Pakistanis settled abroad to invest more in Pakistan to help the country's economy.
Bureau Report