July 3, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 21,1423

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ISLAMABAD, July 2: Over 20 political parties and social organizations have issued a declaration, saying that society rejects the so-called sustainable federal democracy plan proposed by the government.

The declaration termed the proposal a step towards concentrating absolute power in the person of Gen Pervez Musharraf and the military.

It said the fact that the president would be able to install a prime minister was contradictory to the spirit of parliamentary democracy.

According to the proposal, the president and the governors would be authorized to remove the prime minister and chief ministers, and dissolve national and provincial assemblies, respectively.

The civil and political society, the declaration says, condemn these planned steps and demand that these proposals be withdrawn immediately.

The declaration says that the military government has no right to enact constitutional amendments.

The suggestion that there should be an all-powerful National Security Council implies that the federal cabinet will simply be a rubber stamp rather than an actual decision-making forum. Through these proposals, the military government has shown contempt for civilians and the civilian rule, the declaration added.

The parties and groups that have opposed the proposed constitutional amendments package include Labour Party of Pakistan, Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party, Pakistan People’s Party, National Workers Party, Tehrik-i-Insaaf, Socialist Party of Pakistan, Peoples’s Rights Movement, Railways Mehnatkash Union, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Journalists for Democracy and Human Rights, Deharidaar Mazdoor Union, Inqilabi Rickshaw Drivers Union, Rehri Hawkers Union, Anjuman Mazarain Punjab, All Pakistan Alliance of Kuthca Abadis, and Awami Labour Union Ghazi of Barotha, and NGOs Shirkat Gah, SDPI, and SUNGI.