HYDERABAD, Aug 10: Leaders of different political parties have rejected the proposed constitutional amendments’ package on the ground that it would lead the country to nowhere except the empowerment of an individual.

They were speaking in a discussion on “Proposed constitutional amendments and democratic political process”, organized by South Asia Partnership and Takhleeq Foundation at the press club here on Saturday.

The deputy chief, Jamaat-i-Islami, Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf had no authority to introduce changes in the Constitution. He added that even an elected parliament could not change the basic structure of the Constitution what to talk of an individual.

He said that under the proposed amendments, defence of the country would be additional duty of the army while its first and primary function would be to rule over the country.

He deplored that at least 14 ministries, which were provincial subjects, were being controlled by the centre.

The Information Secretary of the Pakistan People’s Party, Taj Hyder, said that in the ensuing parliament, the political parties should bring about amendments for enlarging the scope of fundamental rights and ensuring respect to them.

He said that the Article 175 should be amended so that the courts could not validate military rule under doctrine of necessity.

He said that the people’s right over their resources should also be accepted.

He said that under the new setup of the parliament, Punjab would have two more seats in the joint sitting of the parliament.

Hyder severely criticized dissolution of the Public Accounts Committee which detected misappropriation of Rs3.4 billion in the accounts of the armed forces and called for further inquiry.

The Acting President, Pakistan Muslim League-N, Sindh, Imdad Chandio, said that political parties should determine that they would not indulge in power sharing with the army in future.

He said that the amendments would neither help restore democracy nor ensure a bright future.

The Deputy Convener, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Dr Farooque Sattar, said that since Gen Musharraf had failed to implement his seven-point agenda, given at the time of coup, the amendments were introduced.

He maintained” Hamood-ur-Rehman Commission report informed people that not the Bengalis but the generals were traitors.” Why were these generals not punished and their properties not confiscated, Dr Sattar asked.

In his opinion cosmetic changes being introduced were not sufficient but a grand surgery and amputation was required.

The Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo said that the country had virtually become one unit. He demanded that all powers should be delegated to the Senate and women should be given special rights.

The Chairman, Sindh Tarraqi Pasand Party, Dr Qadir Magsi asked why those, who suspended or abrogated the Constitution, were not put in the dock.

He said that the Supreme Court had no right to authorize anyone to amend the Constitution.

Central leader, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Abdul Wahid Areesar; President, All Pakistan Minority Association, Sindh, Saleem Khursheed Khokhar; Secretary General, Communist Party of Pakistan, Khadim Rind; President Women Wing, Tehrik Insaf, Sindh, Noor Banu; Ibrar Kazi and others also spoke on the occasion.