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“I
have made these amendments in the larger interest of the country
because I want to see sustainable democracy in Pakistan”
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By
Asif Farooqi, IOL Pakistan correspondent
ISLAMABAD,
August 22 (IslamOnline) - President General Pervez Musharraf on
Wednesday August 21, announced crucial changes in the country’s
constitution, giving him new powers to sack elected government by
dissolving the National Assembly.
In
the constitutional amendments package, which got the final approval
from the cabinet earlier in the day, the armed forces have been given
a formal role in the country’s politics by giving army, air and
naval forces chiefs seats on the powerful National Security Council.
Announcing
the constitutional changes during a press conference, Musharraf said
the amendments did not require a formal approval from Parliament.
“And if they (the new government) tried to make confrontation out of
these changes (in the constitution) I will see whether they will back
out or me,” he added.
“That
is an issue that would bring them into conflict with me. Then I will
see who remains,” he said when asked what would happen if the
assembly rejected the amendments
Musharraf
made these controversial changes in the constitution weeks before the
restoration of civil rule. The country is supposed to return to
democracy following October 10 polls, which will choose a new National
Assembly as well as provincial legislatures.
“I
have made these amendments in the larger interest of the country
because I want to see sustainable democracy in Pakistan,” Musharraf
told the news conference.
One
of the 29 amendments announced Wednesday ensures that General
Musharraf holds the offices of the President as well as that of the
Chief of the Army Staff, simultaneously for another five years.
The
elected government has been subjected to several checks through these
amendments. The National Security Council has come out as one of the
most important institutions, which has been given the powers to
overlook the working, not only of the government, but also that of the
Parliament.
Being
the chairman of this all-powerful body, the President would be able to
question the prime minister on any issue of national importance. The
prime minister, leader of the opposition and the services chief have
also been placed on this Council, besides the provincial chief
ministers and head of the parliament.
As
the new changes have been enforced at once, the president now has the
power to appoint services chiefs. Earlier, this was the sole right of
the prime minister to appoint chief of army, air and naval forces.
According
to the new changes, those who have ever been convicted by a court for
a criminal offence or have ever defaulted on the government loans or
have not been paying their utility bills regularly, will not be able
to take part in the elections or be eligible to hold any political
office in the future governments.
But
Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 by toppling
then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said any member of the previous
ruling family would not be allowed to contest the election. He said
they agreed to live in exile in Saudi Arabia.
“I
guarantee you that they will not come back. Even the Saudi government
will not allow them to come back,” he said.
Nawaz
Sharif and his two brothers were elected to the National Assembly in
the 1997 general elections.
Musharraf
said he would not try to keep former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
from returning to Pakistan. “Bhutto will be imprisoned upon her
return to serve a pending prison sentence,” he said.
“She is also facing 12 other cases and
she will have to face these cases,” Musharraf added.
