Zardari to accept Parliament's decision on amending his powers

Islamabad, Jan 14 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that parliament is authorised to decide on the powers of the President and the Prime Minister, and added that he would accept whatever decision is made regarding amendments to the Constitution.

"I believe in the sovereignty of parliament and the strengthening of the democratic institutions," he told a four-member delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) delegation in a meeting at the Presidency.

MQM parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr. Farooq Sattar led the delegation, which included Senator Babar Ghauri, Waseem Akhtar and Sindh Assembly member Adil Siddiqui, Geo News reported.

Babar Ghauri told the media that the delegation had discussed the coming Senate elections and his party's 18th amendment bill with Zardari.

Earlier, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told reporters that the Pakistan People's Party would form a committee to review bills submitted by various political parties seeking the repeal of the 17th Constitutional Amendment.

"The MQM has submitted a bill in this regard... The PPP will constitute a committee to study these bills," he said after inaugurating a seminar on climate change.

The 17th amendment to the Pakistan Constitution empowers the President to dissolve elected assemblies, dismiss the Prime Minister and appoint service chiefs.

The amendments were incorporated in the Constitution during the rule of former President Pervez Musharraf. (ANI)