ISLAMABAD, 20 April 2004 — Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf yesterday approved a controversial bill setting up a National Security Council which critics say would give the military a political role.
The NSC bill has already been passed by the two houses of Pakistani Parliament. Officials said it was forwarded to Musharraf, who approved the bill yesterday.
The new law calls for establishing a 13-member National Security Council made up of military chiefs and nine civilian leaders to shape policy on national security issues.
Musharraf, who is also the country’s army chief, will head the council, which he says will only be a “consultative” body.
But critics have charged the council will give military brass a say in the policies of a democratically elected government.
The main opposition Pakistan People’s Party of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has vowed it would overturn the new law when it gains the parliamentary strength to do so.
The president will be chairman of the council. the prime minister, chairman senate, speaker National Assembly, leader of opposition, chief ministers of provinces, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee and services chiefs will be members of the council.
Last Wednesday, the Senate passed the NSC bill in just three and a half minutes in the absence of the opposition, which was on a token boycott to protest its more limited presence in standing and other committees.
A controversial bill that seeks to create a national security council affording the military a permanent role in Pakistan’s governance, was likely to remain a contentious issue in the long-term, according to analysts.
