Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan

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The Eighteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Pakistan (

General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and to ease political instability in Pakistan.[3][4] The bill reversed many infringements on the Constitution of Pakistan over several decades by its military rulers.[3] The amendment bill was passed by the Senate of Pakistan on April 15, 2010 and it became an act of parliament when President Asif Ali Zardari
signed the bill on April 19, 2010. It was the first time in Pakistan's history that a president relinquished a significant part of his powers willingly and transferred them to parliament and the office of the prime minister.

Background

The power of the president to dissolve the Parliament was enacted by the

presidency of Gen. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, before it was removed by then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif during his second term by the Thirteenth Amendment. It was finally restored during the presidency of Gen. Pervez Musharraf by the Seventeenth Amendment.[2] This bill is the first bill since 1973 to decrease the powers of the president.[5]

Back then, this amounted to the only democratically elected parliament to fully complete its tenure in the history of Pakistan from 2003–2008, albeit under Musharraf. The second complete parliamentary term was completed by the PPP led government from 2008–2013 which had in fact passed the 18th Amendment. However, this 2008–2013 term is often touted to be the first complete democratic change of power without a military president or a coup d'etat in Pakistan.[4]

Changes to the Constitution

The major new features were also introduced into the constitution, including the following:

  • The name of the former president of Pakistan, Gen Zia-ul-haq, has been removed from the text of Constitution
  • The 17th Amendment and Legal Framework Order as introduced by Musharraf has been repealed
  • Turning Pakistan from a
    semi-presidential to a parliamentary republic
  • The Self-governing, legislative and financial autonomy was granted to the
    Provinces
  • North-West Frontier Province has been renamed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  • The ban on third time prime ministership and chief ministership has been lifted
  • Holding constitution in abeyance is tantamount to high treason
  • The Council of Common Interests (CCI) has been reconstituted with the prime minister as its chairperson and the body should meet at least once in 90 days
  • The restructuring of National Finance Commission Award (NFC Award)
  • A Independent judicial commission will recommend the appointment procedure of superior judges and the final names of judges will be decided by parliamentary commission
  • A Chief Election Commissioner will be appointed through consensus between treasury and opposition
  • Establishment of Islamabad High Court and benches of high courts in Mingora and Turbat
  • Recognition of the children's right to education and insertion of a new section under Article 25A to provide constitutional guarantee that state will provide free and compulsory education to all girls and boys up to age 16.
  • The power to dissolve the parliament was withdrawn from the President.

Impact

292 of the 342 members of the

emergency rule in any province unilaterally.[5]

Devolved ministries

The following ministries were devolved at federal level and were given to the provinces.[8]

According to 18th Amendment:

  1. Ministry of Education became Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training
  2. Ministry of Archaeology and Culture became
    Ministry of Culture
  3. Ministry of environment became Ministry of Climate Change
  4. Ministry of health became Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination
  5. Ministry of special initiatives abolished at federal level.
  6. Ministry of labour and manpower became Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development
  7. Ministry of local government and rural development abolished at federal level.
  8. Ministry of minorities’ affairs merged with the Ministry of Religious Affairs
  9. Ministry of population welfare abolished at federal level.
  10. Ministry of social welfare and special education abolished at federal level.
  11. Ministry of sports became Pakistan Sports Board at federal level and given to provinces.
  12. Ministry of tourism's powers given to
    Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation
  13. Ministry of women development abolished at federal level.
  14. Ministry of youth affairs abolished at federal level.
  15. Ministry of Zakat and Ushr abolished at federal level given to provinces.

Response

Ahmed Kurd, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, said "We fully support the 18th Amendment. It is tantamount to the overhauling of the constitution, which had been subverted by military dictators since its inception. In the past, parliaments have just been 'rubber stamps', whereas the present parliament seemed to be well aware of its obligations, and therefore, was 'throwing out' the 'unconstitutional' amendments."[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ NA passes 18th Amendment Bill, PM felicitate the Nation Archived 2012-03-18 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010-04-08
  2. ^ a b "Pakistan lawmakers approve weakening of presidential powers". CNN. April 9, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Pakistan's national assembly passes key constitutional reforms, The Sunday Telegraph, 2010-04-08
  4. ^ a b Pakistan Weighs Changes to Revise Constitution, The New York Times, 2010-04-06
  5. ^ a b Pakistan parliament agrees to curb presidential powers, BBC, 2010-04-08
  6. ^ Pakistani National Assembly Votes to Limit Presidential Powers, Voice of America, 2010-04-08
  7. ^ Constitution bill sent to Senate, Dawn (newspaper), 2010-04-10 Archived April 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "PM decides fate of over 38,000 govt employees". April 14, 2018.
  9. ^ Lawyers' majority endorses 18th Amendment, Daily Times (Pakistan), 2010-04-08 Archived June 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

External links

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