LAHORE, March 16: The federal government has sent about 400 copies of the newly-printed Constitution to the Punjab Assembly for the oath of the elected members in its first session, which is yet to be convened.

The total number of the Punjab Assembly members is 371.

Sources told Dawn on Sunday that new copies of the Constitution would also be placed in the National Assembly which is scheduled to meet on Monday (today) for the oath of its newly-elected members, and election of the speaker and deputy speaker. The new edition incorporates amendments made by President Pervez Musharraf through his two provisional orders of 2007.

Sources claimed that by including Provincial Orders 5 and 6, 2007, the steps taken by the president during the emergency last year had been made a part of the Constitution, and the NA members would be asked to take oath under it.

The steps included imposition of the emergency on Nov 3, 2007, suspension of the Constitution, sacking of judges, creation of the Islamabad High Court, and lowering of the age of judges from 45 to 40 years.

According to the sources, the amendments made in the Constitution by the president through POs 5 and 6, 2007, were made a part of it through his Revocation of Proclamation of Emergency Order 2007 on Dec 15, 2007.

Its Section 4 says: “The Constitution as amended by the Constitution (Amendment) Order 2007 and the Constitution (Second Amendment) Order, 2007, shall stand revived on, and with effect from the 15th day of December 2007.”

Section 7 (1) says: “The provisions of the order shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution or any other order or law for the time being in force.”

Sources said as the Revocation of Proclamation of Emergency Order 2007 was validated by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the federal government thinks that the amendments made by the president have become a part of the Constitution.

But the political parties and legal circles say that the steps taken by the president needed ratification by the parliament, which only had the mandate to amend it.

All amendments to the Constitution, including the last 17th Amendment, have been made only by the parliament.

Meanwhile, official sources said the sessions of the provincial assemblies would be called after assessing the results of the first meeting of the National Assembly on Monday.