ISLAMABAD, July 25: President Pervez Musharraf has indicated that he may withdraw the two proposed amendments that empower the president to appoint prime minister, and reduce the term of parliament.

“We feel there is some opposition against the proposed amendment which gives powers to the president to appoint the leader of the house. Therefore, we are considering withdrawing it,” he said.

Gen Musharraf was talking to former diplomats, academicians, intellectuals, legal experts and economists in the studios of Radio Pakistan on Thursday.

Likewise, the president said, the government would withdraw the amendment that sought to reduce the term of the National Assembly from five to four years and that of the Senator from six to four years.

He gave an assurance that members of the majority party in the National Assembly would have the right to choose the leader of the house.

The president made it clear that though the prime minister would enjoy the full executive authority, he would not be allowed to indulge in corrupt practices and he would have to be a “very responsible” person.

He pointed out that only “essential and immediate” amendments would be finalized and the rest would be kept pending for the future parliament.

Gen Musharraf claimed that the feedback received from a cross-section of the population lent full support to the government to go for the minimal essential amendments to the Constitutions. “But I assure you that these would be made logically and pragmatically with an open mind.”

He said there were two options with the government either to go for the maximalist or the minimalist approach, and it had opted for maximalist. He said that keeping in view the past political environment, especially during the last 12 years, certain essential amendments were needed to undo the bad experience of the past.

The president claimed that the amendments introduced by the assemblies in the past were made on short notice and for personal and party interests.

The president said the Supreme Court had authorized the government to amend the Constitution and, “we will exercise that power in national interests”.

In reply to a question, he said the prime minister would be the chief executive of the country. He said the power would be with the prime minister and check with the president to ensure that national interests were not compromised.

Asked to offer his views about the election of the president, Gen Musharraf said he would “cross the bridge when it comes”. However, he said he believed in the constitutional and democratic process and would take a democratic course.

He said there should be harmony in the term of the office of president and other representative offices and “if majority wants, the same could be done for the assembly as well”.

Answering a question about the role of the National Security Council, he said it would have no executive role and would be a consultative body to ensure that national interest was not compromised over individual and party interests.

Gen Musharraf said if the prime minister ran the government smoothly he would get strength from the NSC against the leader of opposition. He was sure that the new National Assembly would complete its tenure and promote true democratic values.

He said it would be difficult for the president to overrule the NSC’s point of view. He said the 13th Constitutional Amendment made the president a rubber stamp. To ensure that certain constitutional offices remain depoliticized, the power to appoint their heads had been proposed to be given to the president, he added.

He said they could consider giving “some say” to the prime minister but added that the national interests would have to be kept in mind. In this connection, he referred to the use of $11 billion of expatriates deposits through the State Bank by the government in the past.

Referring to Article 58(2)(B), the president said different options were being considered, including either to dismiss the prime minister and the cabinet or assembly as well. He said if only the prime minister and cabinet were dismissed, a new leadership would emerge.

He pointed out that if provision was given for only the dismissal of the cabinet, there could be frequent dismissals and “there is a need to make it very difficult”.

The president stated that the graduation condition for candidates to contest elections was a popular move. According to an assessment, he said, 41 per cent members of the previous assemblies would stand disqualified because of the graduation condition and thus there would be a new leadership. He said that even in remote areas of Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas there were graduate women who could contest the elections.

The president said that no change had been proposed in the rules of parliament and hoped that the assemblies would do their real work of legislation.

He said the government was looking into how to give more power to the Senate to promote provincial harmony.

He regretted that a campaign of de-stabilization was going on in the country. He urged the media to play a more positive role and see the realities on the ground. He elaborated that in many cases what had been projected was not reality.

Gen Musharraf assured the nation that the government would make any arrangement possible to ensure that the October elections were held in a fair and impartial manner. He referred to the past experience and said the losers always criticized the election process.

He said the government was looking into ways and means to economize the election expenditure like use of transport, posters, and entertainment.

The president said whatever the government was doing was within the realm of the Supreme Court decision and if anybody had any doubt, he could go to the apex court.

He claimed the silent majority was favouring the proposed amendments.

Asked what would be his reaction if the elected parliament rejected these amendments, Gen Musharraf said there were some amendments in the national interest and if they were rejected, “we will take this seriously”. He said he would not allow mala fide intentions to amend the Constitution but if the intentions were good “we will see”.

Asked about the constitutional and institutional checks and balances on the Chief of the Army Staff, the president said the danger lay in denying power. The COAS would be a member of the NSC and his views would be considered there. “If the National Security Council gives an advice, everyone will be morally bound to accept that”.

He said there would be no martial law in the presence of the NSC as it was not the job of the military to run the government.

The president also replied questions about the recent increase in the prices of different commodities. Giving an instance, he said, though Nepra had allowed the increase in tariff he held it back. The government, he said, would have to bear the losses being suffered by Wapda and the KESC.