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Parliament gives vast powers to Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Tuesday (Reuters) Pakistani parliamentarians passed a constitutional bill in the National Assembly that gives vast powers to President Pervez Musharraf, including authority to sack the elected government.

Members belonging to the ruling coalition and a hardline Islamic alliance joined hands to endorse a set of constitutional amendments that also allow Musharraf to hold the slot of army chief for one more year.

The bill, approved by 248 of the 342 house members needs to be passed by Pakistan's upper house, or Senate, where the ruling party and the Islamic alliance enjoy the required strength.

The opposition, comprising the parties of two former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, boycotted the voting.

The government struck a deal with Islamic Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) earlier this month to put the amendments to a vote in parliament, ending a yearlong political impasse.

The amendments relate to changes Musharraf made in the constitution before he returned the country to democracy in 2002.

The deal will be sealed during a vote of confidence in Musharraf, expected later this week, which would keep him in power untill 2007.

"It will help end uncertainty and bring stability in the country," Information Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed told Reuters. "The vote of confidence on President Musharraf is expected on Janaury 1 or 2."

The main opposition Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) described the passage of the bill as a dark day in the country's history.

"We condemn the indecent haste with which a constitutional amendment of far-reaching implications for democracy and civil society was bulldozed in the National Assembly today," Farhatullah Babar, the PPP spokesman said.

The amendment bill was passed by the assembly in three days.

Babar said the military "forcibly rewrote the constitution" with the help of its allies in the Islamic parties.

"We are opposed to it and determined to undo the undemocratic provisions as soon as we get a constitutional majority."

The opposition says the amendments put too much power in the hands of Musharraf and condoning him as president in a military uniform for another year was against the spirit of democracy.

"It is an absolute negation of the constitution and democracy," Babar said.

Meanwhile one of the two suicide bombers who targeted President Pervez Musharraf last week belongs to an outlawed Pakistani Islamic group and was freed from an Afghan prison last year, intelligence officials said.

An intelligence official said Mohammed Jameel, 23, a resident of Rawalakot in the Pakistani part of Kashmir, was a member of the outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Musharraf banned the group along with several others in an attempt to curb Islamic militancy in Pakistan.

Another intelligence official said Jameel was caught fighting alongside the ousted Taliban in Afghanistan and was freed from an Afghan jail last year along with 29 other Pakistanis.

On arrival in Pakistan, Jameel was screened by security agencies but was freed.

"The JIT (Joint Investigation Team) had concluded that the suspect was not involved in any anti-state activities as nothing adverse had been found against him," said the official who asked not to be named.

"Nobody realised that he would turn into a suicide bomber," he added. The other suicide bomber was an Afghan.

Senior Pakistani officials say that a network of Kashmiri and Afghan militants with ties to international "terror" groups were responsible for the attempt on Musharraf's life.

Earlier the United States condemned the latest bid to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf, and said it was "proud" to count Pakistan as an anti-terror ally despite rising criticism here of its conduct.

Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke to Musharraf following his latest escape, to express "great relief at his safety and well-being," said State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli.

"The United States strongly condemns these attacks against the president of Pakistan," said Ereli at a daily press briefing.

"We extend our condolences to the families of the bystanders who were killed in these cowardly acts of terror."

Later on Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage met Pakistan's ambassador to Washington Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, to discuss issues including the US anti-terror campaign.

"We are grateful that President Musharraf was not harmed, and offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who were killed or wounded in this murderous attack," Ereli said after the talks.

"We are proud to call Pakistan our ally in this most critical of battles, and are convinced of Pakistan's staunch support as we work together to make the world safer for our respective peoples and the entire South Asia region," Ereli said in a statement.

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