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Journalism of Courage
Rejecting the mounting criticism of his proposed constitutional amendments, President Pervez Musharraf said the new set up was aimed at ensuring checks and balances between President, Prime minister and the Army Chief.
Musharraf has unveiled a series of proposals that would give the President power to fire the Prime Minister, his Cabinet and Parliament, and provide a permanent role for the Army in the country8217;s power structure.
Speaking at a meeting of senior Defence officials here, he defended the amendments that paved the way for constitution of a military-dominated National Security Council NSC to be headed by him.
The NSC 8212; headed by the President 8212; will ensure strong checks and balances among the President, Prime Minister and Army Chief, he said.
8216;8216;If the Chief of Army Staff becomes ambitious, he starts crossing the limits; and if the President goes impulsive, things start deteriorating, and if the Prime Minister renders himself ineffective and starts plundering, it becomes difficult to run the affairs of the country,8217;8217; Musharraf said.
He said NSC8217;s job would be to facilitate the Prime Minister and 8216;8216;not8217;8217; create hurdles as many people 8216;8216;wrongly8217;8217; perceived. There was a genuine need to strike a balance in the powers of the President, the Prime Minister and the Army Chief.
8216;8216;Since I am not pursing any personal political agenda, I think I can perform this job well,8217;8217; he said.to deal with all national issues.
A chorus of condemnation over the proposed sweeping changes to Pakistan8217;s constitution gained momentum today with critics charging the package made President Pervez Musharraf 8216;8216;lord and master of all he surveys8217;8217;. 8216;8216;Under the new dispensation the President will be the lord and master of all that he surveys,8217;8217; screamed an editorial in the Nation daily.
The package, released ahead of the October general elections, 8216;8216;envisages an all-powerful President8217;8217; with 8216;8216;absolutely no check on his powers8217;8217;, it warned.
Political commentator and editor of the Daily Times, Najam Sethi, branded the proposals a 8216;8216;nightmare8217;8217;. 8216;8216;These proposals are just one man8217;s dream. And his dream is a nightmare for all political and democratic forces,8217;8217; Sethi said, rejecting the government line that they were aimed at stability and sustainability.
Analysts concurred that the constitutional changes would turn Pakistan8217;s traditionally Parliamentary system of government into a presidential system by bolstering Musharraf8217;s already vast powers. PTI
