24 November 2004	Wednesday	11 Shawwal 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: Former speaker National Assembly Fakhar Imam on Tuesday said the 17th constitutional amendment had disfigured the 1973 constitution, as it had given predominance to the role of the president than the prime minister.

"Through the amendment a significant power of the prime minister in our political environment to appoint services chiefs has been taken away in favour of the president," he explained while talking to the reporters here at the Supreme Court.

Presidents are always elected through contest in normal democratic traditions, but the way Gen Musharraf has been elected president has killed the spirit of contest and choice, he said.

The level of tolerance in the present assembly has gone further down which is evident from the fact that major political issues involving the destiny of the country like Pakistan-India relations, Kashmir, situation in Wana and the Baluchistan crisis are being discussed outside the parliament in Iftar dinners, Fakhar Imam deplored.

It was the duty of the foreign minister to announce the policy statement on Kashmir options on the floor of the house instead of President Musharraf making off the cuff remarks at some dinner, he said.

"The supremacy of parliament can only be ensured if matters are discussed in assemblies," he said, adding, "Things would then be discussed in streets if parliament was not taken into confidence."

"As speaker I allowed clause by clause discussion on the eight amendment bill for full 47 days in the then parliament, but here in the case of the 17th amendment, the entire negotiations between Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) and the government were held by-passing the assembly, he deplored.

He recalled the concept of the national security council (NSC) was knocked out of the eighth amendment, but the present assembly not only approved it but also passed the bill on keeping two offices by Musharraf.

When his opinion was sought about the uniform issue, he simply asked the president to stand by the commitment he had made with the people by doing away with the uniform after the December 31, 2004 deadline.