ISLAMABAD, July 17: Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has expressed concern over the proposed constitutional amendments.

In a statement, issued here by the PPP chief’s media office, she said the proposals struck at the heart of the rights of the federating units and supremacy of parliament and civil society, and opened the floodgates to the rise of ethnicity.

“Ethnic tensions in neighbouring Afghanistan played havoc with that unfortunate nation and all patriotic Pakistanis need to ensure that the pattern is avoided in Pakistan,” Ms Bhutto said, adding that “these proposals constitute a threat to democracy, federalism and principle of devolution of power. Small provinces will feel particularly threatened.”

The former premier remarked that the proposed structure of the Council of Common Interest (CCI), the National Security Council, the Supreme Judicial Council and the National Economic Council contradicted the basic principles of federation, violated principles of devolution and changed parliamentary form of government into a presidential one without the president being elected in a direct vote and without being accountable and answerable to any one.

Unlike the previous practice requiring unanimous decision, she said, the matters in the CCI would be decided by majority decisions. The CCI members included prime minister, two federal ministers and four chief ministers, she said, adding that even if three provincial chief ministers of smaller provinces took one position, which in itself was not very easy, the remaining four members of the council would be able to decide the matter in their favour.

The National Security Council consists of the president, prime minister, chairman joint chief of staff committee, three services’ chiefs and four provincial chief ministers.

The PPP chief said that even if three chief ministers of small provinces and prime minister voted together (which was almost impossible), the other side would still be having the strength of six votes.

WOMEN’S FUNDS: Ms Bhutto on Wednesday called on the government to donate funds to a new “Women’s Protection Fund” to protect women in the country.