LAHORE, Aug 7: The Punjab Assembly urged the National Assembly through a unanimous resolution on Thursday to legislate for the removal of Article 58(2)b from the Constitution.

Moved by Shaukat Aziz Bhatti of PML-Q’s forward bloc, the resolution was not opposed by any opposition member present in the house at the time. Deputy Speaker Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan was in the chair.

Mr Bhatti said democracy had been restored after numerous sacrifices. “The present assemblies have been elected by the people of Pakistan and no individual should have the power to dissolve them.”

He said 58(2)b negated the spirit of democracy and the spirit of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” adding that he was optimistic that other provincial assemblies would adopt similar resolutions.

Supporting the resolution, Mian Rafique of PML-N said the article should be removed forthwith but added he did not know who would “bell the cat”.

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah immediately stood up to say that senior leaders of the coalition parties were finalising arrangements to bury dictatorship. He was optimistic that the will of the people would prevail and democratic forces would emerge victorious. The minister congratulated the people of Punjab and their elected representatives for taking the lead in adopting such an important resolution, and thanked the opposition for its positive contribution.

Leader of opposition Chaudhry Zaheeruddin later told newsmen that the resolution was passed in the absence of many opposition members. “It is not unanimous, most of my colleagues were offering prayers when it was passed,” he said.