ISLAMABAD The Muttahda Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday submitted an 18th Constitution Amendment Bill with the National Assembly Secretariat suggesting repeal of most of the amendments introduced in the constitution during former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf's days in power.

Talking to reporters after submission of the bill, the Parliamentary Leader of MQM in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar said the 'undemocratic clauses' in the 17th amendment would be repealed, while the clauses essential for the democratic system would be retained.

He said the positive amendments which would not be touched include those pertaining to reserved seats for women, voters' age and joint electorate.

Sattar said the time had come to end the centre based system. A strong centre cannot guarantee a strong Pakistan, but strong federating units can ensure it. He said the sense of deprivation prevailing among the provinces must be addressed. In the past, amendments had been introduced to serve the interests of individuals or some political parties, but the bill submitted by the MQM is aimed at empowering the people.

He said the bill proposes the centre to have only three subjects including defence, foreign policy and currency and rest of the subjects should be transferred the provincial and district levels. He further said that the bill also provides real concept of independence of judiciary. He said the bill suggests appointment of judges through a Judicial Commission. The judicial commission should recommend three names and the final approval should be given by the parliament.

Sattar said the bill was aimed at eliminating feudalism and adhoc-ism from the country. He  said the battle for power between President and the Prime Minister has always remained an issue, which had in the past provided an opportunity to the Army to intervene. He said the powers of the President and the Prime Minister have been determined in the proposed bill and ownership has been given to the people.

The MQM leader said the bill also proposes abolition of the concurrent list and establishment of an inter provincial executive committee in its place. He said constitutions of India and several European countries were studied during the process of shaping up the proposed bill.

He said copies of the bill would be circulated to all the political parties and said that the MQM was ready to exchange views on the bills to be moved by other political parties. PML-N and PML-Q had so far not contacted the party.