Firing Prime Ministers Harms the Pakistan Constitution
Disregarding the constitution and parliamentary system, President Zardari, the chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has reduced the prime minister to a yes-sir (gi-jinab) minion who must seek the president's consent before taking any political, economic, foreign policy, or domestic action. Contrary to the constitution's letter and spirit, President Zardari himself has become the most powerful executive. Important government decisions are made in the presidential palace and not in the prime minister's office. This de facto constitutional subversion has deepened in the last few months as the Pakistan Supreme Court struggles with prime ministers over reopening a money-laundering case against Zardari pending in Swiss courts. Following the British parliamentary model of government, Pakistan has established a constitutional system under which the prime minister is the head of government whereas the president is the head of state. The president commands very few power...