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Zardari signs Bill curbing his powers

19 April 2010 23:18 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday 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, APA reports quoting â€œThe Hinduâ€.
Mr. 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.
â€œThis is an historic day,â€ Law Minister Babar Awan said at the Presidential Palace.
â€œFor 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,â€ he said.
The amendments will take away the Presidentâ€™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 Gen. 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 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 decades who sought to strengthen their hold on power.