Islamabad: Pakistan Government, which entered into a deal with Islamist parties to get endorsement for General Pervez Musharraf's Presidency and constitutional amendments, today (Dec 26, 2003) presented the agreed package to the National Assembly in the form of a Bill.

The draft Bill, titled as Constitution 17th Amendment Bill, was introduced in the National Assembly for approval by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Raza Hayat Hiraj.

As per the Bill, which seeks to amend nine articles of the constitution, Musharraf would be deemed as elected President after winning the confidence vote in Parliament and Provincial Assemblies.

Other amendments included granting of powers to President to dismiss Parliament, which would however be subjected to a review of Supreme Court.

It also allows establishment of National Security Council, (NSC) dominated by military officials by an Act of Parliament and gives powers to President, instead of Prime Minister to appoint Chiefs of Army, Navy, Air Force and other top military jobs.

While mainstream Opposition parties declined to endorse his attempts to get his Presidency ratified by a confidence vote in Parliament and four Provincial Assemblies, the Muthahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) agreed to provide the support after Musharraf agreed to its demand to quit as Army Chief by the end of Dec 2004.