Zardari transfers nuke power to Gilani

Islamabad, Nov 28: Stepping down as the chairman of National Command Authority, President Asif Ali zardari handed over nuclear control to prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Nov 27.

Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that before surrendering the powers to Gilani, Zardari amended the re-promulgated National Command Authority Ordinance.

In accordance with the earlier declaration, 17th Amendment of the constitution, which gives the president the power to dissolve the parliament and dismiss the prime minister, will be abolished in Dec 2009.

"We wanted to abolish the 17th Amendment from day one but we wanted to do it through a unanimous decision, just as the 1973 Constitution was also approved unanimously during the time of Zulfikar Bhutto," he said, adding that the move was a giant leap towards the empowerment of an elected prime minister and parliament.

OneIndia News