PML-N publicises LFO recommendations

By Shahzad Raza

ISLAMABAD: Making public its recommendations on the Legal Framework Order (LFO), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Wednesday reiterated its stance by rejecting any amendment in the 1973 Constitution without the approval of parliament.

Confirming that the government-opposition dialogue failed to generate consensus on controversial issues, the party said that the government would have to show two-thirds majority to amend the Constitution or make the LFO part of it. The recommendations, given to the Chairman of an 11-member Government-Opposition Committee (GOC), were released by the PML-N information secretary, Muhammad Siddiqul Farooq. Following is the text of the recommendations:

“The LFO is not and cannot be accepted as part of the constitution. If the government wants to make it part of the 1973 Constitution, it should be brought before the parliament as a comprehensive constitutional package.

“The PML-N does not accept the concept of a president in uniform. It is violates all democratic and constitutional norms. Only a president duly elected under the procedure laid down in the 1973 Constitution will be acceptable. “The PML-N does not accept, wholly or in part, the proposed amendment in the shape of 58(2)(b). We feel it should be deleted. However, the option of reducing the tenure of the assembly can be explored so there is absolutely no need to reduce the life of the assembly through unnatural and often undemocratic means.

“The PML-N opposes the formation of the National Security Council as a constitutional or a supra-constitutional body. My party is open to reactivating and energising the Defence Committee of the Cabinet in order to oversee the issues of defence and national security more proactive. “The PML-N opposes the extension in age granted to members of the superior judiciary as it is an embodiment of the worst and the most blatant kind of ‘judicial horse-trading’ in the history of Pakistan. It seeks to permanently taint the name of the judiciary in Pakistan.

“We also oppose the extension/limitation in age imposed on new judges of the High Court as being totally unnecessary. “The PML-N opposes the proposed addition to the discretionary powers of the president.

“The PML-N is totally opposed to sanctifying laws under the Sixth Schedule, most of which are either highly controversial (NAB Ordinance) or fall within the preview of the provinces (Local Government Ordinance).”

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