Updated on January 13th, 2023
Presidential System in Pakistan
The demand for an Islamic Presidential system in Pakistan is gaining momentum day by day. This campaign is started by some of the members of the Imran khan Party (PTI), Some Senior Journalists and many other social media workers.
This demand is getting stronger day by day. These days, the Islamic Presidential system is one of the most important on talk shows, on social media and in Parliament.
As the Imran Khan (PTI) government faces the wrath of opposition parties and a possible no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, a new debate has erupted over the introduction of a presidential system.
The lesser-known Pakistan Awami League has already staged a rally demanding the imposition of presidential rule in the country.
Following the passage of the Electoral Reform Bill by Parliament – allowing the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in elections, the PTI is now campaigning for a presidential style of government under which the head of government or executive authority Is directly selected by the peoples.
The 1973 constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government. A change in the system can be brought about by approving a constitutional amendment by a two-thirds majority. Another option for the government is to hold a referendum on changing the system.
It is noteworthy that all major powers, including China, the United States and Russia, have a presidential style of government and, according to its supporters, this system simplifies the decision-making process, and that it is more stable and consistent with government policies.
Informed PTI sources told this correspondent that the party had informed the coalition parties about its plan and most of them supported the idea. The ruling party is unlikely to face any reaction from the allies but only from the opposition parties.
Sources said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had tasked some party leaders to discuss the issue with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to allay the concerns of the opposition parties.
He said the government was not in a mood to negotiate with the PML-N, as the PPP’s support would be enough to get the constitutional amendment on the presidential system passed by parliament.
The PPP termed the ongoing debate on the presidential system as a “ridiculous idea and a ploy to cover up the failure of the government” and said that there was no provision in the constitution for a presidential system and such an experiment could not be allowed.
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb accused the Imran Khan government of trying to introduce a presidential system of government in the country through its proposed electoral reforms.
The PML-N leader said that the electoral reform bill passed by the National Assembly was unconstitutional and aimed at reducing the powers of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was trying to impose the presidential system on the country by abolishing the federal parliamentary system of democracy.
The only way to introduce a presidential system is to bring in a new constitution or perhaps amend the constitution by giving more powers to the president as was the case before Asif Ali Zardari.
At present, the Imran Khan government does not have the required power in parliament to amend the constitution. According to legal experts, there is no option to change the referendum system. Officially, the PTI has not supported any change in the form of government.
