Pakistan: Zardari Curbs His Own Presidential Power

Today, marked an historic positive step for Pakistan in moving away from a political system amounting to dictatorship towards what could be a real parliamentary democracy. President Zardari signed into law a bill, the 18 TH constitutional amendment, which has wide implications into turning the clock back and restoring democracy in Pakistan after more than three decades of on and off  tyrannical rulers.

President Zardari claimed the passage of the 18TH amendment bill “has closed doors to dictatorship forever”. Senator and Chairman for Constitutional Reforms, Raza Rabbani, who was a driving force in passing the bill, said the 18TH amendment bill is a unique achievement because “it is the first time that a duly elected President is giving his powers willingly to the Prime Minister and the Parliament”.

Pakistan’s constitution, according to Rabbani, was mutilated by the dictators who aimed to perpetuate their own power.

“The 18TH amendment bill does away with the name Zia-ul-Haq; it does away with the wastage of Musharraf by repealing the 17TH amendment bill. The Pakistani constitution returns as nearly as possible to the principles of the 1973 constitution,” said Rabbani.

The 18TH amendment bill signed by President Zardari today will take power away from the President and the federal government. It removes the President’s power to sack the Prime Minister, appoint the leaders of the military and dissolve Parliament.