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MQM proposes constitutional changes

* Sattar says Provincial Autonomy Bill after budget session
* Supports NWFP’s net hydel royalty
* MQM accepted NFC Award under pressure

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) supported NWFP’s net hydel royalty demand on Wednesday and proposed a number of amendments in the Constitution through a provincial autonomy bill that recommends changes in the composition of the NFC Award, shrinking the federal legislative list and deletion of the concurrent list.

Addressing a press conference at a local hotel, MQM National Assembly Parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that his party strongly opposed the federal government’s appeal in the Supreme Court (SC) against net hydel profit to NWFP.

The MQM proposed amendments enhancing the powers of the Senate and curtailing the president’s authority to unilaterally declare an emergency in the country and appoint high court judges, Sattar said.

Sattar suggested that provincial governors should be empowered to appoint high court judges in consultation with chief ministers instead of the president. “Provincial chief ministers and governors must be consulted prior to any proclamation of emergency by the president,” he added.

Talking about the provincial autonomy bill, the MQM leader said the concurrent list should be deleted and the 55 items in the federal legislative list should be reduced to 35. Only defence, currency, external affairs and communication should remain with the centre, he said, adding that these steps would in fact strengthen the centre and its federating units.

He said his party had accepted the NFC Award under pressure from the president and it should be re-composed to independently allocate resources for the provinces, as practised in India.

Sattar said the MQM had suggested that there should be no role for the Shariat Appellate Bench of the SC, which he said was functioning as a parallel judiciary.

He said MQM had also proposed changes in Article 209 (A) of the Constitution through the provincial autonomy bill to establish provincial judicial councils (PJCs) like the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) in the centre.

Sattar said that the proposed bill envisaged reactivation of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) with enhanced powers and increased participation from the provinces.

The bill suggested that besides the prime minister, who according to the Constitution is chairman of the CCI, provincial chief ministers should be empowered to call a council meeting on one-week’s notice, Sattar said. “The CCI would be bound to settle any issue in a period which should be not more than 18 months,” he added.

The MQM also suggested amendments in Article 171 of the Constitution to create an office of provincial auditor general to reduce the burden on the auditor general of Pakistan as well as to ensure transparency and fairness in government departments, he said.

Sattar strongly opposed the creation of more federating or administrative units in the country and urged the government to give full-fledged autonomy to the existing provinces. He cited the East Pakistan debacle, which resulted in the separation of Bangladesh. Such an incident would not have happened in 1971 if autonomy were given to Bengalis, he said. He warned of a similar situation in the country if the provincial autonomy issue was ignored.

He said the president and prime minister had been requested to push the autonomy bill through Parliament when it is tabled after the federal budget session concludes on June 23.

He told the media that the president had already assured the MQM of the government’s complete support on the bill.

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