Only parliament can amend the Constitution: PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 16 : Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has said nobody but only the parliament was entitled to amend the constitution as a supreme state institution.

Speaking at the floor of National Assembly on Tuesday on the issue of judges’ appointment, Gilani reiterated the government doesn’t want collision with judiciary.

“We believe in consultation and respect decisions of judiciary,” he said.

Referring to restoration of the judges, the prime minister said that before the restoration of the superior judiciary he held five hours long consultative session with legal experts who wee of the opinion that a Parliamentary Resolution was required for the purpose.

He said as the Government intended to restore the judges, so they were reinstated through an executive order.

The Prime Minister said they will not only accept the verdict of the Supreme Court regarding appointment of judges in the superior courts but also implement its interpretation of meaningful consultation.

He said consultations are part of the business and the government has always proved its good intentions on all issues including appointment of judges.

He said he has made it clear time and again that the government will accept the verdict of the Supreme Court on the issue of judges and will implement its decision.

He questioned the term of consultations when appointment authority is President. In this connection he said former President Pervez Musharraf telephoned him and told that he wanted to appointment Salman Taseer as Governor. When he(PM) referred to the term consultation, the former President said as he had spoken on telephone, so the consultation has been done.

He said it is not the intention of the government not to accept the decision of the court and will bow down to that ever was the verdict.

Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said government will never interfere in the working of the parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms which is independent to frame suggestions regarding bringing a consensus amendments in the constitution. He however said till those amendments are passed by the Parliament the existing procedure will continue

The Prime Minister said that the present appointments in the superior judiciary are being made under the prevailing constitution and these have no link with the suggestions of the parliamentary committee.

Responding to points raised by the members of the House during debate on water issue he said the government was focused on improvement of irrigation system to bring more land under cultivation.

He said he has already announced construction of Chashma Right Bank Lift Irrigation Project which would help irrigate millions of acres of land. He said the project has been included in the PSDP and the government is making arrangements for finances.

Earlier the members of the National Assembly taking part in the debate on construction of Baghliar and Kishan Ganga Dams and Wuller Barrage by India in violation of Indus Basin Water Treaty urged the government to take up water dispute with India at international level.

They said India is violating Indus Basin Water Treaty and is working on a plan to construct dams to utilize Pakistani water share that must be stopped. They condemned India for construction of Baghliar Dam and its plans for construction of Kishan Ganga Dam and Wuller Barrage.

The members said Pakistan is facing acute shortage of water and according to the United Nations report per capital water availability has come down from 5500 cubic metres in 1950 to 1000 cubic metres at present.

They said Pakistan is rapidly being converted into a water scarcity country and the government should take the notice of the situation and should make efforts to compel India for implementing Indus Basin Water Treaty.