ISLAMABAD — President Gen. Pervez Musharraf yesterday decreed formation of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) under article 153 of the constitution.| This is 'inside cricket' even for Pakistan. |
The Supreme Court has taken serious notice of continued absence of the council. It cited this absence as one of the reasons in annulling the privatisation of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and directed its establishment within six weeks.
According to a cabinet division notification Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will chair the council and chief ministers of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and NWFP, Inter-provincial Co-ordination Minister Salim Saifullah, Federal Ministers for Narcotics Control Ghous Bux Mahar and Federal Minister for States & Frontier Affairs Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind will be other members of the council.
The CCI takes all decisions unanimously. However, in case of disagreement by federal or a provincial government over a decision the matter would be discussed in a joint session of the parliament. The parliamentÂ’s decision on the matter will be final and unchallengeable.