Reforms body reviews final draft

Islamabad—The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms on Saturday reviewed the final draft of constitutional reforms with dissenting notes by all political parties except the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party.The committee met here at Parliament House with Senator Raza Rabbani in the chair for detailed review of the recommendations of the committee for draft of 18th constitutional amendment.

Well placed sources told Pakistan Observer that draft for the proposed 18th amendment bill would run into 60 pages while explanation notes would cover the same number of pages.The committee proposed almost 80 amendments in 26 articles of the constitution. All political parties except the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party expressed their reservations on the proposed recommendations which have also been made part of the draft. PML-Q was at the top of list with maximum objections.

“Parliamentarians from FATA informed the committee about their reservations on proposed constitutional reforms through a separate letter by showing no-confidence in their parliamentary leader Munir Khan Orakzai” the sources said.The committee also reviewed the arguements by ANP and PML-N over the issue of renaming NWFP as Pukhtunkhawa. Sources said that both parties seemed to be sticking to their stands but there were chances of consensus on Pukhtunkhawa-Abbasin or Abbasin-Pukhtunkhawa.