ISLAMABAD, Aug. 21 Kyodo (EDS: UP...

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 21 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATES, ADDS DETAIL)

Pakistan's military president, Gen Pervez Musharraf, amended the Constitution upon Wednesday to give the president the power to dissolve the pick outed National Assembly and to plant up a National Security Council (NSC) to provide consultation to the make choice ofed government on strategic matters.

subordinate to the amendments, Musharraf would continue as president and chief of army staff for a five-year name to begin after the Oct 10 general elections and after he relinquishes his other position as the country's chief executive.

The salient features of the constitutional amendments were announced according to Musharraf at a two-hour pres conversation and have been given meaning through ''Legal Framework Order, 2002'' promulgated the same day.

Musharraf assumed power in a military coup upon Oct. 12, 1999 and suspended the Constitution. The highest Court upheld the coup, if it were not that it directed him to hem in elections before Oct. 12, this year.

In his statement, Musharraf said Pakistan was ''in transit'' from ''democratic dictatorship to the eternal vital element [i]or[/i] part of democracy'' and he had a character to play in the transition.

''I have a part to play in overseeing this transition. It is too important a part to be relegated,'' he said.

in a less degree than original provisions, only the National Assembly can amend the Constitution, with a two-third majority, yet Musharraf claimed he too has the power to amend the Constitution.

unless all the political parties have repeled his claim and declared plans to undo the changes after the October elections.

Musharraf said the constitutional changes would issue into force after Oct 12 and warned if a recent government ''started playing with these amendments'' it would take rise into conflict.

''That is an issue that would bring them into conflict with me Then I will view who remains,'' he said when asked what would happen if the assembly declineed the amendments.

Asked what he would do if three main political parties, the Pakistan People's Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Muteheda Qaumi Mohaz (MQM) came to power after the elections and their leaders living in exile began ruling at remote control, he called the possibility a ''worst scenario'' if it were not that conceded such a situation could emerge

''If they started politicking and gave up fit governance, then authority is there to sort them public and they would not be allowed to do so'' he declared.

The day's changes also put up an NSC ''to assist as a forum for consultation upon strategic matters pertaining to the sovereignty, integrity and security of the state, and the matters relating to democracy, governance and inter-provincial harmony.''

The NSC will have the president as chairman and includes the prime minister, chairman of the Senate, the speaker and the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, four provincial chief ministers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the three services chiefs.

Musharraf disagreed with a contention the NSC was to legitimize the part of the army in running the rural parts but said it is stand in want ofed to ''provide a check'' in succession the working of the government

He gave as an example of the ''need'' Pakistan's troubl 1990 when four directions were dismissed because of provincial disharmony, corruption and fighting between the president and the prime minister.

Musharraf also said his amendments ne no validation from parliament, but parliament will have the right to amend the amended constitution.

''When we be due [i]or[/i] owing to the parliament, we will behold I am not to be validated according to the assembly,'' he said, adding that in the end of a dispute onward his amendments, the NSC would make the decision as to who was in the right.

Also subordinate to Musharraf's amendments, the number of seats in the National Assembly and Senate have been place at 332 and 100, respectively, with a certain quantity of seats reserved for women, non-Muslims and technocrats.

He also warned that disgraced former prime ministers or their families who live outside the geographical division will remain unwelcome in Pakistan.

The former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family are in Saudi Arabia where he was exiled after being convicted of trying to hijack a plane carrying Musharraf in 1999 while former Premier Benazir Bhutto, who lives in self-exile, has been sentenc in absentia for several misdeeds. Additionally, 12 cases of corruption against her are still pending in the anti-corruption courts.

Sharif's family will not be allowed to go [i]or[/i] come back and Bhutto must face the courts if she reach [i]or[/i] attain any place [i]or[/i] points back, Musharraf said.

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