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| May 16, 2006 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 17, 1427 |
Salient features of Charter explained: Accord to set up commission
KARACHI, May 15: Leaders of Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League (N) have agreed to set up a commission to examine and identify the causes of and fix responsibility and make recommendations in the light thereof for incidences such as Kargil.
This was stated by PPP’s central information Secretary Ms Sherry Rehman while releasing the text of the Charter of Democracy in a news conference here on Monday.
Referring to the emphasis on restoring supremacy of parliament and to block, once for all, the possibility of military intervention, she said that leaders of the two parties have resolved that National Security Council would be abolished. The Cabinet Committee on Defence will be headed by the prime minister and will have a permanent secretariat.
The ban on a prime minister not being eligible for a third term of office will be abolished and Truth and Reconciliation Commission (T&RC) be established to acknowledge victims of torture, imprisonment, state-sponsored persecution, and politically-motivated accountability.
To replace politically-motivated NAB with an independent Accountability Commission, whose chairman shall be nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the Leader of Opposition and confirmed by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
According to the Charter of Democracy, local body elections would be held on party basis three months after the general elections.
The Concurrent List in the Constitution will be abolished. A new NFC award will be announced. Reserved seats for women in the National and Provincial Assemblies will be allocated to parties on the basis of the number of votes polled in the general elections by each party. The strength of the Senate shall be increased to give representation to minorities.
Under the COD an effective Nuclear Command and Control System under the Cabinet Committee on Defence will be put in place to avoid any possibility of leakage or proliferation.
Both parties agreed that the Kashmir dispute should be settled in accordance with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
All military and judicial officers will be required to file annual assets and income declarations like parliamentarians to make them accountable to the public.
A National Democracy Commission shall be established to promote and develop a democratic culture in the country and provide assistance to political parties for capacity building on the basis of their seats in Parliament in a transparent manner.
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