Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday announced the setting up of a special committee to abolish his powers to dissolve the assembly and dismiss the government. “Never before in the history of this country has a president given away his powers,” Zardari said in his debut address to a joint session of parliament . He said parliamentarians of all parties will be represented in the special committee to review Article 58(2)(B), which gives the president power to dissolve the National Assembly and dismiss the government, and the 17th Amendment made during Pervez Musharraf's rule. The President urged the elected representatives to remove “the distortions in the constitution made by successive dictators to prolong their rule.” The speech touched all issues of national importance as well as the challenges facing Pakistan including the war against terrorism, regional situation, economic downturn, foreign policy and relations with neighboring countries. Zardari said Pakistan would not tolerate violation of its sovereignty by any country in the name of combating terrorism. It was a clear warning to the United States over recent cross-border military strikes on Taleban and Al-Qaeda strongholds in Pakistan's tribal areas. Zardari also announced the re-naming of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) as Pukhtoonkhwa as demanded by the Awami National Party (ANP) and others. On relations with Pakistan's arch-rival India, he said all parties should be on board as part of the composite dialogue. Trade should be improved and there should be a liberal visa regime with India, he said. The President announced a three-pronged policy to tackle militancy. He appealed to the militants to renounce violence and let the government engage in developing the tribal areas. Use of force would be the last option, he said, vowing at the same time to root out terrorism and extremism. “My dream is to free this great country from the shackles of poverty, hunger, terrorism and disunity.” The widower of the assassinated former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto said a heavy national agenda challenges the government. “It is the agenda of moving quickly to heal the wounds of the past and restore the trust in the federation.” Successive blows have weakened the federation, Zardari said, which needs to be strengthened. “For this, the bitterness of the past must give way to reconciliation and harmony. I believe that the 1973 constitution is the only consensus document that can fashion such a social contract.” Zardari asked the government to start a consensus building process on provincial autonomy and the allocation of resources through a new formula that meets the needs of a united federation. Referring to past excesses against the Balochi people, the President said tendering an apology to them was a long overdue step. The release from captivity of the former chief minister of Balochistan is also a positive move. The resolution recently, of a longstanding dispute and payment of billions of rupees to Balochistan is a step in the right direction, he said. “But much more needs to be done.” Similarly, the President said the people of the Northern Areas must also get their basic rights, representative rule and an independent judiciary. __
