Pakistan president signs historic bill curbing his power

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari Monday signed a historic bill seeking amendment in the country’s constitution to strip off the sweeping presidential power and strengthen parliamentary democracy.

The 18th Constitutional Amendment Bill was signed at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, his cabinet members, opposition PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif and others, APP reported.

The new law will cut some of the major powers of the president such as appointing the chiefs of the country’s three armed forces, dissolving parliament and dismissing a democratically-elected government.

The amendment will repeal changes made to the constitution by former military rulers Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf to strengthen their power.

President Zardari termed the signing of the bill as an important milestone that aimed at undoing the constitutional changes made by the undemocratic forces.

Zardari said it was a moment of great satisfaction that the constitution was made federal in character and hoped that with the signing of this bill the doors of dictatorship had been closed forever.

He said the first major constitutional package had the backing of the parliament and political parties similar to that in 1973, during the making of constitution.

Prime Minister Gilani said the signing of 18th amendment bill reflects the spirit of political parties for the supremacy of rule of law. He termed it as a “rare and unprecedented smooth transition” in the history, made in the presence of a president, prime minister, chief ministers, governors, all political parties and stakeholders.

“The crowning achievement will be remembered for all the times to come,” he said, adding that it would lead to parliamentary democracy and sovereignty.

Chairman of parliament’s constitutional reforms committee Senator Raza Rabbani said the amendment was unique in three features mainly that a duly incumbent president gave his powers to the prime minister, removal of the ills made by the previous military dictators and the resolution of issue of provincial autonomy.

He said the Islamic and parliamentary character of the Constitution had been maintained, besides ensuring the independence of judiciary and trichotomy of parliament.

Rabbani said this document, time would show that, like the 1973 constitution, will bind the nation that was stained with the blood of Benazir Bhutto.

Federal Minister for Law Babar Awan termed it a historic day as a democratically elected president returned his powers back to the country’s parliament.