August 24, 2007	Friday	Sha’aban 10, 1428

PESHAWAR, Aug 23: A high-powered constitutional reforms committee formed by the NWFP government has proposed a number of amendments to the 1973 Constitution, seeking political, financial and social autonomy for the four federating units.

The committee has suggested that the governor should be bound to sign a bill within seven days instead of giving his assent to the document in 30 days.

It has been recommended that a bona fide resident of the province should be appointed governor rather than inducting a non-local in the same office.

The committee, headed by provincial education minister Fazl Ali Haqqani, has convened a meeting here on Saturday to seek consent of the parliamentary party leaders of different political parties for the proposed constitutional reforms package.

“After taking parliamentary party leaders into confidence the proposed package will be sent to the provincial cabinet,” Mr Haqqani told Dawn on Thursday.

Other members of the committee included provincial ministers of law, finance, science and technology, information and secretaries.

The committee has suggested amendments to 25 articles of the 1973 Constitution, including transferring some of the concurrent list’s subjects to the federating units.

It also suggested financial and administrative autonomy to be vested with the provinces.

Mr Haqqani said that the reforms committee had suggested, convening meeting of the Council of Common Interests twice in a year to discuss issues related with the provinces.