Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf said on Friday his controversial plans to change the Constitution were not set in stone, and he would respect the views of critics before finalising them. In a televised address to the nation, Musharraf denied being power-hungry, but said he did intend assuming some of the decision-making currently empowered to the prime minister — including the right to appoint chiefs of the armed forces. Musharraf, in a nearly hour-long address to the nation, defended the changes that have outraged his critics, but asked for patience and urged opponents to join in the debate. Recent amendments have included a decree banning anyone from becoming prime minister more than twice — a law that effectively sidelines his two main political opponents, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, both of whom are currently in exile. Musharraf keeps Opp leader in proposed Security Council ISLAMABAD: In an effort to have a ‘‘check and balance’’ on the power brokers — the President, prime minister and army chief — the proposed National Security Council (NSC) will have 11 members, including the leader of Opposition, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf announced on Friday night. ‘‘We propose that the NSC be composed of the President, the PM, the Opposition leader, four chief ministers, three armed forces chiefs and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee,’’ he said addressing the nation on TV. The council, headed by the President, will be non-intrusive in governance and have no executive or legislative role, he said adding that after the October elections this advisory body would see to it that democracy was functioning properly. (PTI) ‘‘All amendments are debatable,’’ Musharraf said. ‘‘Give your views with patience and balance and we will respect your views. ‘‘No personal and sentimental decisions will be taken. This is my assurance,’’ he said. Musharraf said he would include any future parliamentary Opposition leader in a powerful military-civilian National Security Council (NSC) that will oversee the workings of an elected government. With elections set for October, critics say the constitutional changes — which will also allow Musharraf to sack an incumbent prime minister, fire the Cabinet and dissolve Parliament — only ensure the military retains the ruling hand in the country’s politics. Pakistan has been ruled by the military for more than half its life, since Partition and Independence from Britain in 1947. Musharraf said the amendments he proposed aimed to prevent future interventions by the military in the affairs of state. ‘‘I am not personally power-hungry,’’ he said, dressed in full military uniform. ‘‘I want to give power, not take power.’’ He insisted that power would reside in Parliament and that the National Security Council would only provide ‘‘checks and balances’’. The main Opposition grouping, the 15-party Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), has demanded that Musharraf step down and let a neutral interim government conduct the elections. Opposition parties have also denounced Musharraf’s proposals as a move to cement the control of generals. ‘‘In the presence of the proposed amendments, power is not going to be transferred to the elected representatives of the people, but to a showpiece Parliament which will neither be independent nor sovereign,’’ ARD chief, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, said on Tuesday. (Reuters)
