Musharraf may lose powers, but not likely to be impeached

SLAMABAD, APRIL 6: A constitutional package, soon to be introduced in Pakistani Parliament by coalition government, will take away “many crucial powers” of President Pervez Musharraf, including those on dissolving the National Assembly and declaring emergency, reducing him to a “titular” head. The package, to be introduced during the next session of the National Assembly, will also determine the status of his actions taken during last year's emergency. Also, it could change the procedure for appointing judges and ensure that autonomy granted to provinces is not violated by any one. The President’s powers to dissolve the National Assembly under Article 58(2b) of the Constitution, appoint provincial governors and chiefs of the armed forces, impose federal rule in any province or declare a state of emergency will be withdrawn, sources privy to the package told the Dawn daily. After the approval of the package to be called the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment by both houses of Parliament, the President will be reduced to a titular head, the sources said. Once the President is “unarmed”, there will be no need for parliament to impeach him, said leaders of the PML-N, a key member of the ruling coalition. Leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party, which heads the coalition, have said they can work with Musharraf so long as he does not interfere in Parliament's affairs. While the PML-N thinks the reinstatement of judges deposed during last year's emergency will not be part of the package, other sources said the matter that has created a “crisis-like situation” which will be resolved by the package. It will determine the status of steps taken by Musharraf during last year’s emergency rule. Ads By Google