CCI revived; to meet in August: Assemblies’ tenure not being extended: Aziz
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, July 6: President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday reconstituted the Council of Common Interests (CCI) headed by the prime minister and comprising four chief ministers and three federal ministers -– one each from Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP — to resolve issues relating to mineral resources, oil and gas, railways, industries and electricity.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told journalists the reconstitution of the council, under Article 153 of the Constitution, was a major development towards considering matters relating to part-two of the Federal Legislative List and electricity under the Concurrent List between the centre and provinces, and among the provinces.
“I had sent my recommendations for formulation of the CCI to the president a few days ago which he has approved,” said the premier, adding that the Supreme Court had mentioned the revival of the CCI in the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) case and the government too wanted to fulfil a constitutional requirement.
“The government respects the Supreme Court decision,” he said.
Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Salim Saifullah Khan (NWFP), States and Frontier Regions Minister Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind (Balochistan), and Narcotics Control Minister Ghaus Bakhsh Mehr (Sindh) are the federal ministers in the council.
The prime minister said that CCI was an important institution and its meeting would see what issues could be considered. Generally, any matter, including PSM, or issues as listed in part-II of the Federal Legislative List and electricity (item 34) in the Concurrent List could be brought up for discussion.
He said the constitution of the CCI would promote harmony between the centre and provinces.
In reply to a question on PSM, the prime minister said he would consult members to find whether there was need to consider its privatisation and, if required, it would be definitely discussed along with other issues like oil, gas, electricity, railways, etc.
He disagreed with a suggestion that the interim National Finance Commission award could also be discussed by the CCI, saying that NFC was covered under different sections of the Constitution. The CCI would discuss the issues listed in the Federal Legislative List.
Asked if the National Security Council (NSC) and the CCI overlapped each other, the prime minister said that the NSC had a totally different role and was an advisory body while the CCI was a constitutional forum that would promote the environment for consultation and mutual understanding to resolve issues.
Asked if the tenure of assemblies could be extended, Mr Aziz said no such thing was under consideration.
Answering a question on the opposition’s call for resignation by the president, he said the agenda of the government was to take the country forward on the path of development while the opposition was indulging in negative politics and criticism for the sake of criticism that did not do any good to people.
Responding to a question, he said contacts and disagreements with opposition were a normal democratic and political process and added that there had been contacts with the opposition.
APP ADDS: The Cabinet Division issued notification regarding reconstitution of the Council of Common Interests.
Meanwhile, the inter-provincial coordination minister said that a meeting of the CCI would be held in August.
Talking to PTV, he said the agenda of the meeting would be finalised in consultation with all stakeholders.
The issues likely to be discussed were water distribution and royalty of gas and electricity.
He said the CCI members could discuss any issue with the consent of the council’s chairman, adding that the CCI could also discuss delegation of various powers to provinces.
