ISLAMABAD: Smelling rate in designs of powers that be to oust him on
medical grounds, President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday vehemently
denounced impressions of his ill health inviting implementation of
Article 47.
Clause one of the Article 47 of the Constitution
reads; 1) “Notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution, the
President may, in accordance with the provisions of this Article, be
removed from office on the ground of physical or mental incapacity or
impeached on a charge of violating the Constitution or gross
misconduct.”
President talked to a senior journalist who had
written a commentary piece referring to the Article on phone for quite
sometime and according to the latter he taunted lightly saying,
“Journalists should also be subjected to certain Articles.”
The
President rather asked the question how Article 47 could be implemented
on him as was physical alright and his health does not warrant the
application of any Article. The President was reported as saying, “If
they impose this Article on me perforce, our manifesto would be not to
accept.”
“I’m here in Dubai just as a prisoner of doctors, and
would return home as soon as they permit me,” the President said. “I’m
anxious to be on a plane to return to the country sooner the better,” he
added.
The President told the journalist that he was completely aware about what was being written and discussed in Islamabad.
However,
constitutional experts were failing to understand that how the Article
47 could be applied, perforce on President Zardari while the
Constitution empowers only the Parliament to do so.
They
referred to the Clause 2 of the Article that clearly prescribes that not
less than one-half of the membership of National Assembly or the Senate
could initiate such a motion in their respective Houses.
Clause
2 and onward of the Article 47 reads; “(2) Not less than one-half of
the total membership of either House may give to the Speaker of the
National Assembly or, as the case may be, the Chairman written notice of
its intention to move a resolution for the removal of, or, as the case
may be, to impeach, the President; and such notice shall set out the
particulars of his incapacity or of the charge against him.] (3) If a
notice under clause (2) is received by the Chairman, he shall transmit
it forthwith to the Speaker.
(4) The Speaker shall, within three
days of the receipt of a notice under clause (2) or clause (3), cause a
copy of the notice to be transmitted to the President.
(5) The
Speaker shall summon the two Houses to meet in a joint sitting not
earlier than seven days and not later than fourteen days after the
receipt of the notice by him.
(6) The joint sitting may
investigate or cause to be investigated the ground or the charge upon
which the notice is founded. (7) The President shall have the right to
appear and be represented during the investigation, if any, and before
the joint sitting. (8) If, after consideration of the result of the
investigation, if any, a resolution is passed at the joint sitting by
the votes of not less than two-third of the total membership of
[Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] declaring that the President is unfit to
hold the office due to incapacity or is guilty of violating the
Constitution or of gross misconduct, the President shall cease to hold
office immediately on the passing of the resolution. Online
