Reduction in parliament term under study: Musharraf tells editors polls on schedule
KARACHI, April 28: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that the government was thinking about cutting down the tenure of the parliament.
Replying to a question at his meeting with the editors of national, regional dailies and news agencies, the president said that slashing the tenure of the parliament from five to four or three years was under consideration and when it came to some conclusion the people would be informed about the same.
He said one month would be given to elicit views on this issue before taking a final decision.
To another question, the president made it clear that elections would be held in October and there was no possibility of holding the elections in August or September.
He pointed out that already May was about to start and then how far the month of October remained. He said no question arose to hold elections in September.
NSC ROLE: Gen Musharraf made it clear that the role of National Security Council (NSC) would be of protecting the national interests and to function as an organ of checks and balance.
He said that the NSC would not interfere in the governance of Pakistan unless the government acted in violation of issues of national interests.
Replying to a question, the president recalled the experiences of the past 10 years or so and pointed out how the CBR was misused in the issuance of SROs for personal benefits.
He cited the example of 15th Constitutional Amendment whereby no one could move against the prime minister or resort to floor-crossing.
The president said there were the occasions when the president wanted to impeach the prime minister and the prime minister wanted to impeach the president.
He told the questioner that these were the occasions where the role of NSC would come and it would have the power to check such things. But the power to govern would remain with the prime minister.
The president said that the government had chalked out four parameters which were essential for the existence of Pakistan as well as democracy.
He said these parameters included checks and balance in respect of the president, prime minister and chief of army staff. He maintained that without these check and balances, the democracy could derail — if not now, then after 5, 10 or 15 years.
And as such, there should be an institutional mechanism which may not allow the balance of power to disturb and then there should an institution which could follow the constitutional aspect in case of a political crisis, he added.
The president said that if the government or the prime minister indulged in such acts which were violative of national interest, the NSC would check them and would see that national interests were not overcome by personal interests.
Similarly, Gen Pervez Musharraf said, the aspect of provincial harmony and continuity of reforms would also be looked after and these would not be allowed to go waste or reversed.
He said that the NSC would see that reforms restructuring was not allowed to reverse.
He made it clear that he or the National Security Council did not want share in power but would like to see that the government was run in a good manner and if it did not work rightly, then the NSC would play its role.
NA JURISDICTION: Gen Musharraf said that the jurisdiction and powers of the National Assembly and Senate were being analyzed and the government was also looking for greater inter-provincial harmony.
He said a decision in this respect would be taken before October. “Before taking the decision you will also be apprised of that so that you could hold a debate on it and also give your views”.
Replying to a question whether or not the new parliament would be allowed to bring further improvement in the reforms as had been introduced by him, President Musharraf said that the parliament could go to an extent of bringing further improvements in the reforms but in case it went beyond that, the NSC would come into play.
REFORMS IRREVERSIBLE: The president reiterated that the reforms initiated by his government were irreversible.
“Should anyone try to reverse these reforms or acted in a manner which was against the national interest, the NSC will play its role,” he said.
The president pointed out that the reforms could only be reversed if the political restructuring being carried out by the government did not function in the right direction.
“But it will be ensured that the president, the prime minister, cabinet, assembly and the senate performed their functions with harmonious relationship and in the greater national interest and they all complete their tenure,” the president said emphatically.
However, if an atmosphere of confrontation occurs in the parliament, then there is a fear of reversal of reforms but it will be here where the NSC will play its role to block any such attempt which may be violative of the national interest, he said.
NEW DAMS: President Pervez Musharraf warned of the perils of water shortage in future and said that if new dams were not constructed, Sindh would be a greater sufferer.
He pointed out that both water accords of 1991 and 1994 had become contentious issues.
Explaining, the president recalled that in the 1991 accord, while it was hoped that Kalabagh dam would be constructed, it had been decided that the water stored in Kalabagh reservoir would be distributed 50:50 between Punjab and Sindh.
However, the dam project did not materialise but Sindh wanted to share water on that very basis to which Punjab did not agree.
The president said the issue of water was as much contentious for Punjab as it was for Sindh. The extent to which Sindh opposed Kalabagh dam, to the same extent Punjab opposed the distribution of water.
He said this issue is so much contentious that his government had decided to leave it for the new assembly to address it which would come into existence after October elections.
As regards the issue of construction of Thal canal, Gen Musharraf said it was meant for storing flood water and it was mentioned in the Irsa and whatever was mentioned in Irsa would not be allowed to be violated.
LEGALITY OF REFERENDUM: At the outset of his talk to the editors, the president referred to the legality or constitutionality of the validity of the referendum and said he had already declared that whatever the verdict of the Supreme Court would be taken as final.
The Supreme Court, he said, had declared the holding of the referendum as constitutional and gave a right decision based on an article of the Constitution and he pays tribute to the Supreme Court for this historic judgment.
TIES WITH PRESS: President Musharraf described his relations with the press as harmonious and said he had tremendous amount of understanding with the them.
“I do not mind anyone writing against me or referendum,” the president said.
He said he felt displeasure or indignation when facts were distorted. He said he did not believe in distortion and in the recent past, the facts were being distorted deliberately.
“Whatever the reason you know better than me,” the president remarked. He said he did not mind if his views were opposed one thousand times as it was the prerogative and independence of the press.—APP
