Drastic constitutional amendments on cards to make coups ‘cognizable’ offence: Pak minister

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Law Minister Babar Awan has said that the parliamentary committee working on the constitutional reforms package is seeking to amend Article 6 of the Constitution, which would make it impossible for the superior judiciary to approve of military coups.

Speaking during a function here, Awan said the parliamentary committee has recommended some drastic changes in the Article 6 (concerning high treason).

“Drastic changes are envisaged in Article 6 of the Constitution that will not only make military coup but also its validation a ‘cognizable’ offence under relevant penal laws,” The Dawn quoted Awan, as saying.

The 18th Amendment will also seek to repeal some of the amendments incorporated into the Constitution by the Musharraf regime through the 17th Amendment, such as vesting the president with the power of appointing services chiefs and dismissing the National Assembly, he added.

Article 6 came in the limelight after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) pressurised the government to prosecute former President General Pervez Musharraf under high treason for verthrowing a democratically elected government in 1999. (ANI)