President Pervez Musharraf will preside over a meeting of the federal cabinet and the National Security Council (NSC) on April 16 to make the office of the president more powerful by introducing amendments to the Constitution.
The meeting, which is likely to be attended by provincial governors and constitutional experts, will also consider an amendment for the revival of section 58-2-b under which the president is empowered to dismiss the government and also dissolve the assembly.
The move is seen as a foolproof mechanism of checks and balances in the various power centres by strengthening the office of the president both in the National Security Council and in Parliament.
Musharaff has not spelled out whether the amendments he is seeking in the Constitution will be a reversion to the parliamentary system. But care will be taken not to disturb the basic structure of the 1973 Constitution.
In his current 'referendum speeches' Musharraf has made it clear he intends to continue with the reforms he has initiated during his two-and-a-half-year rule.
Bureau Report
