Pakistani parliament gives vast powers to Musharraf

Pakistani parliamentarians yesterday passed a constitutional bill in the National Assembly that gives vast powers to President Pervez Musharraf, including authority to sack the elected government.

Members belonging to the ruling coalition and a hardline Islamic alliance joined hands to endorse a set of constitutional amendments that also allow Mr Musharraf to hold the slot of army chief for one more year.

The bill, approved by 248 of the 342 house members needs to be passed by Pakistan's upper house, or Senate, where the ruling party and the Islamic alliance enjoy the required strength.

The opposition, comprising the parties of two former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, boycotted the voting.

The government struck a deal with Islamic Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) earlier this month to put the amendments to a vote in parliament, ending a yearlong political impasse.

The amendments relate to changes Mr Musharraf made in the constitution before he returned the country to democracy in 2002.

The deal will be sealed during a vote of confidence in Musharraf, expected later this week, which would keep him in power untill 2007.

"It will help end uncertainty and bring stability in the country," Information Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed told Reuters. "The vote of confidence on President Musharraf is expected on Janaury 1 or 2."

The main opposition Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) described the passage of the bill as a dark day in the country's history.

"We condemn the indecent haste with which a constitutional amendment of far-reaching implications for democracy and civil society was bulldozed in the National Assembly today," Farhatullah Babar, the PPP spokesman said.

The amendment bill was passed by the assembly in three days.

Mr Babar said the military "forcibly rewrote the constitution" with the help of its allies in the Islamic parties.

"We are opposed to it and determined to undo the undemocratic provisions as soon as we get a constitutional majority."

The opposition says the amendments put too much power in the hands of Mr Musharraf and condoning him as president in a military uniform for another year was against the spirit of democracy.

"It is an absolute negation of the constitution and democracy," Mr Babar said.

Mr Musharraf, a staunch ally of Washington in the war against terror, survived a suicide bombing on Thursday blamed on Islamic militants.