Pakistan Senate passes bill curbing powers of the presidency

Pakistan Senate passes bill cutting prez powers

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Senate has passed a constitutional amendment stripping the president of powers inherited from the country’s former military ruler.

The approval is a key step toward implementing the opposition’s demands and could reduce political pressure on U.S.-allied Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

Pakistani Sen. Babar Ghori said the bill passed with 90 votes out of 100. Zardari has said he would sign the bill, which already passed the National Assembly, into effect.

The bill transfers several powers, including the ability to fire an elected government and appoint military chiefs and judges, from the office of the president to the prime minister.

The presidency accumulated the powers when it was occupied by Gen. Pervez Musharraf.