PPP's 62-point plan to cut Musharraf powers, amend constitution

Islamabad, May 23 : Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said that draft of 62 points constitutional package to reduce the powers of President Pervez Musharraf and amend the Constitution has been finalised which will be sent to the Prime Minister, PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif and the coalition parties.

He provided few details, but made clear that the reforms would reverse changes made to the constitution since Musharraf seized power in a 1999 military coup.

Zardari said the package could be put to a vote in Parliament within weeks, though some observers are predicting that it will quickly bog down in political horse-trading.

Addressing a seminar on media freedom, Zardari appealed to his coalition partners for unity.

He evoked the sacrifices of former premier Benazir Bhutto and her father to bolster his party's claim to lead the struggle for democracy.

Zardari also took a swipe at lawyers who are threatening to mount massive street protests next month unless the judges are reinstated.

"We have a little seniority over other newfound democrats," Zardari said in remarks directed at the lawyers.

"We will solve your issues, but let us solve them politically. Don't try to tell us how to run politics," The Dawn quoted him, as saying.

ANI