November 13, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 02, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 12: The election manifesto of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League commits the party to a comprehensive review of the 1973 Constitution, particularly of the issue of transfer from the federal and concurrent lists some subjects that can be better taken care of by the provinces. Provinces will also be given authority to generate funds for such new subjects to make them financially independent.

The imbalance in the powers of the president and the prime minister will also be corrected, head of the manifesto committee Senator S. M. Zafar told Dawn here on Monday.

“The Constitution will be democratised.”

A former law minister, Mr Zafar said it would not be fair to transfer various subjects to the provinces and then leave them at the mercy of the centre for funds to run them.

The manifesto, he said, would also commit the party not to appoint a minister belonging to a particular field to head the ministry associated with it. This means, an industrialist would not be made minister for industries or a banker minister for finance. Likewise, a practising lawyer will not be appointed minister for law.

In the light of its experience of five years in power, the PML has also reached the conclusion that the Senate should be given a role in the appointment of judges and ambassadors. The relevant committees of the upper house would clear top judicial and diplomatic appointments.

The Constitution, he said, would also be amended to ensure that no ordinance was issued when the Senate was in session.

At present, the president is barred from issuing an ordinance when the National Assembly is in session. But there is no restriction on him when the upper house is in session.

Senator Zafar said a concept of regular inter-party conference in the assemblies would also be provided for in the new manifesto. This, he said, would ensure constant dialogue among the parties represented in the legislatures.

There is also a strong recommendation to integrate the tribal areas into the national mainstream in accordance with the spirit of Article 247 of the Consti-tution. The manifesto also commits the party to build new dams to meet growing irrigation and power needs. However, the new projects have not been identified.

Providing jobs, learning opportunities and justice would get priority in the new manifesto.

Senator Zafar said he had proposed “Rozgaar, Ilm and Insaaf” as the election slogan for the party. “But I am not sure whether this slogan will be accepted because there are some practical politicians who don’t seem to be fascinated by Ilm and Insaaf.”

To promote literacy, the manifesto commits the party to a comprehensive plan of partnership between the government and private entrepreneurs.

As for access to justice, Senator Zafar said, emphasis would be laid on an alternative dispute resolution approach. He said: “The final thrust of the manifesto is to make a Pakistani proud of his identity as a citizen of the Islamic Republic.”