Zardari signs bill curbing his powers

I / Islamabad April 19, 2010, 18:37 IST

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari today signed a landmark law that strips him off the sweeping Presidential powers, in a move that will strengthen the post of the Prime Minister and parliamentary democracy.

Zardari signed the historic 18th constitutional amendment bill, which was passed by both houses of Parliament by a two-thirds majority last week, at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.

"This is an historic day," Law Minister Babar Awan said at the Presidential Palace. "For the first time in the history of this country, a democratically elected president has voluntarily given up his power back to the parliament of this country."

The amendments will take away the President's powers to appoint the three service chiefs, dissolve the parliament and dismiss an elected premier. They also repeal changes made to the constitution by former military rulers Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf to strengthen their grip on power.

Changes made to the constitution by Zia-ul-Haq and Musharraf conferred vast powers on the President, including the power to appoint the service chiefs and the heads of the Election Commission and Public Service Commission. The President also had the power to dismiss all or any of the central or provincial governments and the parliament and legislatures.

The bill that was signed by the President today seeks to strengthen parliamentary democracy in a country that has seen several military strongmen topple democratically-elected governments.

The bill also seeks to restore the constitution that has seen several rounds of interference by dictators over a span of four decads who sought to strengthen their hold on power.