PPP meeting over package curtailing Presidential powers underway

Islamabad, May 24 : The Pakistan People's party Central Executive Committee (CEC) is holding a key meeting at the Zardari House to approve the 62 points constitutional package to reduce the powers of President Pervez Musharraf and amend the Constitution.

Other than the CEC, PPP Chief Ministers of Balochistan and Sindh are also present at the meeting.

The 62-point draft of the constitutional package is likely to be approved in the CEC meeting.

The draft package will be sent to leaders of the coalition parties PML-N, JUI-F and ANP after approval by the CEC.

The package proposes three-year tenure for the Chief Justice of Pakistan; it curtails the President's powers by abolishing article 58-2 (B) and the National Security Council.

The draft also proposes change of the name of NWFP and amendments in Article 62, 63 and Article 90 of the constitution.

Earlier, Asif Ali Zardari 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.

ANI