1973 Constitution restored in its original shape: Rabbani

KARACHI - Chairman Constitutional Reforms Committee (CRC) and Deputy Secretary General Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani has said that his party should be given due credit in restoring the 1973 Constitution in its original shape with the support of all political parties. Raza Rabbani, who arrived in the city on Sunday first time after the approval of 18th amendment, was talking to media at Karachi airport. Rabbani flanked by two Federal Ministers Kursheed Shah and Naveed Qamar was given a rousing reception by the large number of PPP leaders and workers when they landed at the airport. Addressing the PPP workers, Raza Rabani said that the name of military dictator Ziaul Haq was removed from the constitution. He said today our beloved leader Shaheed Benazir Bhuttos promised had been fulfilled. The martyred leader had promised that PPP government would give the 1973 constitution in its original shape to the nation. He said that PPP always committed to implement the constitution and strove worked for its restoration in original shape. Rabbani informed the PPP workers that 292 votes in the National Assembly polled in the favour of 18th amendment without casting any single vote in the opposition and same result was in the Senate where 90 votes were cast in favour of amendment without casting any single vote in the opposition. Terming the success in passing the 18th amendment, he declared that it was the biggest consensus in the last 37 years of political history of the country. He said that labourers would now get their rights after the restoration of the constitution. The 1973 constitution framed by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had been completely restored, he said. If former president has the courage, he should return to the country and face the various charges level against him, he remarked. He held Pervaiz Musharraf government responsible for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. He said one dictator killed ZA Bhutto and another dictator Killed Benazir Bhutto. The passage of 18th amendment had blocked the way of dictatorship forever, he said. Federal Minister for Manpower Khurshid Shah and Federal Minister for Petroleum Naveed Qamar were also addressed the party workers on this occasion.