Deadlock over provincial autonomy continues
ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms failed on Thursday to reach a consensus on amendments to some articles relating to proclamation of emergency, sources told Dawn.
The 27-member committee, which met under its chairman Raza Rabbani at the Parliament House, reviewed articles relating to emergency provisions and appointments to service of Pakistan and conditions of service.
It discussed proposed amendments to Articles 232 to 236 of the Constitution under which the president has the powers to issue proclamation of emergency on account of war or internal disturbance and suspend fundamental rights of citizens.
The sources said that members of the committee continued to differ on the thorny issue of provincial autonomy.
The matter, they added, had been deferred for another day because of the tough stance adopted by smaller and nationalist parties.
Article 232(2) states: Notwithstanding anything in the Constitution, while a proclamation of emergency is in force (a) Majlis-i-Shoora (Parliament) shall have powers to make laws for a province, or any part thereof, with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Federal Legislative List or the Concurrent Legislative List.
The review of articles pertaining to the proclamation of emergency was also put off.
According to the sources, some members were of the opinion that the articles should not be amended while others stressed that amendments were necessary to ensure that no-one could misuse the powers to impose emergency.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Rabbani denied that the committee was facing a deadlock on some issues.
He said the committee was working on a fast track and the nation would soon hear good news. He said the committee would meet again on Friday.
Reviewing Article 240 of the Constitution, the committee agreed that the job quota allocated to the provinces would be strictly implemented and it would be made part of the governments official policy.
PPP sources said the committee was facing difficulty in finalising recommendations for constitutional amendments because smaller and nationalist parties did not trust the countrys two major political parties.
There was complete unanimity among the parties on repealing the controversial 17th Amendment, but there was still no consensus on the issue of provincial autonomy, they added.
The smaller and nationalist parties of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan are not ready to agree on anything short of complete provincial autonomy, while the PPP and the PML-N are reluctant to accept that.
The committee, which has been reviewing the Constitution article-by-article, had to drop finalisation of a proposal for amendment to Article 1 because of differences over renaming the NWFP.
A senior PML-N member of the committee told Dawn that smaller and regional political parties knew that they would never be able to form a government at the centre and because of this they wanted to acquire maximum powers in the provinces.
Tags: Constitutional Reforms,raza rabbani,17th Amendment
DAWN.COM | National | Deadlock over provincial autonomy continues
ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms failed on Thursday to reach a consensus on amendments to some articles relating to proclamation of emergency, sources told Dawn.
The 27-member committee, which met under its chairman Raza Rabbani at the Parliament House, reviewed articles relating to emergency provisions and appointments to service of Pakistan and conditions of service.
It discussed proposed amendments to Articles 232 to 236 of the Constitution under which the president has the powers to issue proclamation of emergency on account of war or internal disturbance and suspend fundamental rights of citizens.
The sources said that members of the committee continued to differ on the thorny issue of provincial autonomy.
The matter, they added, had been deferred for another day because of the tough stance adopted by smaller and nationalist parties.
Article 232(2) states: Notwithstanding anything in the Constitution, while a proclamation of emergency is in force (a) Majlis-i-Shoora (Parliament) shall have powers to make laws for a province, or any part thereof, with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Federal Legislative List or the Concurrent Legislative List.
The review of articles pertaining to the proclamation of emergency was also put off.
According to the sources, some members were of the opinion that the articles should not be amended while others stressed that amendments were necessary to ensure that no-one could misuse the powers to impose emergency.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Rabbani denied that the committee was facing a deadlock on some issues.
He said the committee was working on a fast track and the nation would soon hear good news. He said the committee would meet again on Friday.
Reviewing Article 240 of the Constitution, the committee agreed that the job quota allocated to the provinces would be strictly implemented and it would be made part of the governments official policy.
PPP sources said the committee was facing difficulty in finalising recommendations for constitutional amendments because smaller and nationalist parties did not trust the countrys two major political parties.
There was complete unanimity among the parties on repealing the controversial 17th Amendment, but there was still no consensus on the issue of provincial autonomy, they added.
The smaller and nationalist parties of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan are not ready to agree on anything short of complete provincial autonomy, while the PPP and the PML-N are reluctant to accept that.
The committee, which has been reviewing the Constitution article-by-article, had to drop finalisation of a proposal for amendment to Article 1 because of differences over renaming the NWFP.
A senior PML-N member of the committee told Dawn that smaller and regional political parties knew that they would never be able to form a government at the centre and because of this they wanted to acquire maximum powers in the provinces.
Tags: Constitutional Reforms,raza rabbani,17th Amendment
DAWN.COM | National | Deadlock over provincial autonomy continues
