'Zardari agrees to clipping of his powers'

[Naveed Yaseen]

KARACHI (September 04 2009): President Asif Ali Zardari is said to have agreed to transfer his powers relating to the appointment of the service chiefs, the chairman of joint chiefs of staff committee and governors to the prime minister. He has informed a parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms about this, a number of newspapers' websites quoted the Online news agency as saying.

This would be done by repealing the 17th constitutional amendment. Quoting sources, Online is said to have stated that Zardari had summoned Raza Rabbani, chairman of parliament's constitutional reforms committee, and asked him to work freely and vest with the president only those powers that were laid down in the constitution as it existed in 1973.

The president has also agreed to make appointments of the auditor general of Pakistan, the chief election commissioner and other positions as provided in the constitution only on the advice of the prime minister. "Sources close to Zardari said some federal ministers and other close associates, during meetings of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Karachi and Islamabad, had cautioned him against surrendering his powers all at once as this would make him weaker," the publications said quoting the news agency.

Zardari, however, refused to accept their advice saying he wanted the restoration of the 1973 constitution in its original form and would deliver on his promises made to Sharif the other allies of the ruling coalition. The president also pointed out that in both his addresses to parliament, he had made it clear that it should on his powers, He would, therefore, agree to whatever the parliamentary committee recommended.

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