New package to clip wings of president

LAHORE — The new constitutional package to be introduced during the next session of the National Assembly will take away many crucial powers of the president, smooth the functioning of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and ensure that autonomy granted to provinces by the basic law is not violated by anyone on any ground, media reports said.
The procedure for the appointment of judges could also be changed, and specific roles would be prescribed for the federal government, provincial governments, opposition parties and bar associations. The provisions of the pak Charter of Democracy signed by the PPP and the PML-N would be followed by the lawmakers.
To be called the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment, the package will do away with what are called distortions made and patchwork done on the basic law by various governments to serve their momentary interests. While the PML-N thinks that the reinstatement of judges will not be part of the package, some other sources say the matter that has created a crisis-like situation will also be resolved in one go. The package will also determine the status of the steps taken by President Pervez Musharraf on or after November 3.