Cabinet approves 20th Amendment draft

ISLAMABAD: A special Federal Cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in chair gave its approval to the draft 20th Amendment agreed between the government and the opposition.

Earlier, the cabinet expressed "full confidence" in PM Gilani as he prepares to go on trial for contempt of court, which could cost him his job.

"The cabinet unanimously applauded the conduct of the prime minister in the Supreme Court and reposed full confidence in his leadership," his office said in a statement.

Gilani thanked the cabinet and said he was premier "due to the support of members of parliament, his cabinet colleagues and of the coalition partners".

The National Assembly is likely to pass the 20th Amendment today to give legal cover to 28 by-elections and set down the formula appoint the caretaker prime minister to oversee the upcoming general elections.

Though Tuesday is always reserved as a Private Member's day, the rules will be suspended to get the approval of the 20th Amendment from the National Assembly, and it is likely that the session will be prorogued after the passage of the Amendment.

The PPP and PML-N reached agreement on the amended draft last week when the government accepted all the demands of the opposition for its passage unanimously.

According to the formula for the next caretaker set-up, the leader of the House and leader of the Opposition will suggest the names of members for the interim government while a six-member committee comprising three members each from the PPP and PML-N will be constituted to resolve any differences.

Sources said it was agreed that the same formula would be followed in the caretaker set-ups in the provinces also.

Sources say the MQM's reservations about the draft Amendment will also be taken up at the special cabinet meeting.

The opposition and the government have already agreed upon the constitution of an independent Election Commission and the demand of the opposition to fix the tenure of five years instead of two for members of the election commission.

According to sources, the government and opposition have also agreed that the procedure to remove the member of the election commission will be same as that adopted to remove a judge.

The government has also assured that it will implement the 18th Amendment in letter and spirit.