18th Amendment Bill to make parliament supreme: Farooq Sattar

[Al-zakir]

Updated at: 1331 PST, Monday, January 12, 2009

ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has submitted the 18th amendment bill in the National Assembly secretariat on Monday.

Talking to media here, MQM leader Dr. Farooq Sattar said the 18th amendment bill would ensure the supremacy of parliament and that strong confederating units would strengthen the state. Sattar said there was a need to address the growing sense of marginalisation in the provinces.

He said the MQM’s proposed bill would ensure complete judicial independence and supremacy of the parliament. Farooq Sattar said that provincial autonomy was essential for a socio-economic turnaround in the country. “Until we empower the people, problems can not be addressed”, Sattar added.

Earlier speaking on the issue, MQM leader in NA, Haider Abbas Rizvi said his party would approach like- minded parties for the approval of the bill.

According to reports, bill includes clauses of provincial autonomy, freedom of judiciary, strengthening of constitutional and democratic institutions. The bill also demands reduction in president’s power.

18th Amendment Bill to make parliament supreme: Farooq Sattar - GEO.tv

 

[ajpirzada]

the problem rit now is that everyone has come up with their own bill. they should rather sit together and then come up with a common bill. otherwise none will get passed. everyone is tryin to score points here

 

[Al-zakir]

the problem rit now is that everyone has come up with their own bill. they should rather sit together and then come up with a common bill. otherwise none will get passed. everyone is tryin to score points here

Only if these politican could have put national interest first and their politcal agenda second than we all would have in better place long ago.

 

[rubyjackass]

According to reports, bill includes clauses of provincial autonomy, freedom of judiciary, strengthening of constitutional and democratic institutions. The bill also demands reduction in president’s power.

This with more power to directly elected parliament is good for any country.

 

[amjadkaimkhani]

nice effert by MQM to produce this bill, we are listning from about two years about this bill. the parliment should be the supereme.

 

[Pk_Thunder]

PPP to take credit for repealing 17th amendment​

By Syed Irfan Raza
Wednesday, 14 Jan, 2009 | 01:25 AM PST |
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (R) at a meeting in Islamabad on December 20, 2008. (file photo)
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (R) at a meeting in Islamabad on December 20, 2008. (file photo)

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will take credit of repealing 17th amendment that bestowed ‘politically undesirable’ powers to the President, sources in the PPP said.
Presiding over a late night meeting of PPP parliamentarians at Prime Minister House, Gilani said the PPP will negotiate with all political parties of the country who have presented their separate bills for constitutional amendment or those who are planning to do so. ‘We want that a unanimous bill should be presented in this regard which should be acceptable to all,’ he said.
Some four political parties have so far presented their separate draft bills in the National Assembly while Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has announced that it will follow suit in the current session of the lower house.
Earlier, federal minister for parliamentary affairs Babar Awan told National Assembly that it was PPP who had first initiated the process of repealing 17th amendment some six months ago when law minister Farooq H Naek had prepared the Constitutional Amendment Bill that was circulated to all political parties.
He was of the view that if there would be no consensus of all political parties on a single bill then it would be impossible that any of the separately presented bill be passed by the NA.
So far four separate bills have been submitted in the NA—one presented by the PPP with the name of Constitutional Amendment Bill, two by Pakistan Muslim League-Q (one by Salim Saif Ullah and the other by Wasim Sajjad) and the forth one from Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM).
On this occasion the Prime Minister assured the parliamentarians that PPP led government was committed to the supremacy of parliament and strengthening of all democratic institutions in the country.
‘The present government is taking every step to strengthen the parliament including the functioning of its committees, so that all the issues of national importance are resolved according to democratic norms and through debate and discussion in the parliament,’ he added.
Talking notice of the absence of PPP members of parliament and ministers in the sessions of NA, Gilani urged them to ensure their presence in the lower house, adding that it will reflect their commitment not only to party but to the welfare of masses as well.
He also called upon the Ministers, of State, Advisors and parliamentary Secretaries to make them available during the question hour, and said that, the question hour provides an opportunity to judge the performance of ministries and departments and ensures the government’s accountability.
‘Under Article 91, the Prime Minister, Ministers and Ministers of State are answerable to the National Assembly of Pakistan’, he added.
Prime Minister Gilani said Co-Chairman PPP, Asif Ali Zardari has also directed the party parliamentarians to ensure their presence in the house.
Talking about the Mumbai terror attacks, he referred to his policy statement in the National Assembly and said India has provided only information and not evidence to Pakistan. ‘That information has been sent to the interior ministry of investigation,’ he added.

 

[asq]

No amendment will make a Parliament great unless it has dedicated Leaders who are honest, truthful, patriotic and humble to the cause of the Nation, in my opinion we lack those kind of Leaders and no amendment will make it better.

Let me say this that.

Think not what an amendment can do far a Nation, Think what those who use these amendment can do for the nation. If they worked honestly. they will do under any situation great job for the country if the honestly wished so. Blaming and constantly changing Governments or amendments will do nothing.

 

[RAOSaifullah]

ppp nahai chahai gi k bill ko pass kiya jaye.khass taur pr zardari bilkul nahi chahe ga.kyun k usay pata hai k agar bill pass ho gaya to uska kya banay ga.

 

[asq]

zardari or someone else, bill or no bill, with patriotism and with zeal to bring Pakistan we can do miracles, but by fighting about this bill and that bill we are being bogged down and are benefiting our enemies.

Bills will not fix Pakistan's problems, Good citizens and patriotism will by putting Pakistan before personal greed and selfish designs.