Former Pak PM for a new constitution to determine army's role

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Islamabad, June 16 (UNI) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has called for a new constitution for the country to clearly determine the role of the armed forces.

''Seventeen amendments have been made in the 1973 Constitution.

If you think a new constitution is needed, bring it in Parliament.

It should clearly determine the role of the armed forces in consultation with the provinces,'' Daily Times today quoted Mr Jamali as saying in the National Assembly.

The former Prime Minister, who had abruptly ressigned four years ago to pave way for his banker successor Shaukat Aziz, criticised the government policies and decisions of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML).

However, he defended the steps taken by President Pervez Musharraf after 9/11. He thanked the Islamic alliance, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) for cooperating with him in validating the 2002 elections.

Mr Jamali told the House that the names of his family members were missing in the new voters' list being prepared for the 2008 parliamentary elections.

''It seems that the government has done its homework for the forthcoming general elections,'' he said, adding that if the government does not want him to contest the elections it should have asked him to withdraw his nomination.

''I have told my son to get the names registered on the voters' list if they have been missed incidentally,'' said Mr Jamali, who developed serious differences with PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

He criticised the Opposition parties for complaining of non-registration of millions of voters in the new lists to the visiting US Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher.

''At the same time, I ask the government in what capacity Mr Boucher visited the office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP),'' he said.

Mr Jamali alleged the ruling party was being run in a dictatorial style. ''This was the main reason I quit the party. Senator Mushahid Hussain and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain think themselves above the party,'' he said, adding he had heard that Senator Hussain was being made Information Minister.

UNI

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