ISLAMABAD, April 2: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has submitted an amendment to the bill introduced for the establishment of the National Security Council (NSC) in the National Assembly seeking further reduction in the powers and jurisdiction of the proposed council, sources told Dawn here on Friday.

According to the sources, five members of the MQM - Dr Farooq Sattar, Kanwar Khalid Younus, Nawab Mirza, Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada and Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain - have signed the amendment, a copy of which is available with Dawn.

The MQM members have suggested insertion of sub-section (3) in Section 5 of the NSC bill, which states: "Any proposal on an issue deemed to be of national importance which requires implementation, shall be referred by the Council, to the National Assembly or Senate for appropriate action."

The sources said the amendment had been moved to further curtail powers of the NSC in order to keep parliament a sovereign and supreme body. They said under this amendment, the NSC would be bound to send any plan for implementation on any proposal to the National Assembly or the Senate. Moreover, they said, with the word "appropriate action", parliament would be able to take decision on its own, and the NSC decision would not be binding on it.

Talking to Dawn, Kanwar Khalid Younus said the amendment had been moved after serious thinking with a view to making parliament more sovereign.

Replying to a question, he expressed the hope that the amendment would be accepted by the other coalition partners. He did not give any reply when asked whether they had taken the government into confidence before moving the amendment or not?

He also did not say anything when asked what would be the reaction of the MQM, if this amendment was opposed by the ruling party. "I hope this amendment will be accepted without resistance," replied Mr Younus.

Responding to a question that the standing committee had already approved the draft bill and one of the movers of the amendment, Nawab Mirza, was also present in the meeting, Mr Younus said it didn't matter.

He said they had moved the amendment under Sub-Rule I of Rule III of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 1992. He said when the bill would come up for discussion, the amendment would be there with the committee's approved draft of the bill.