In a bid to pre-empt Kargil-like "military adventures," Pakistan's ruling PPP has mooted a proposal for obtaining cabinet approval before declaring war or using the armed forces against any other country as part of a constitutional reforms package.
Pakistan's constitution has no provision on who can declare a war.
In view of former premier Nawaz Sharif's contention that the then army chief Pervez Musharraf acted on his own in the Kargil conflict in 1999, the reforms package seeks insertion of a new article in the constitution to make it mandatory to seek the approval of the cabinet for declaring war.
The News daily reported today that the article on declaration of war in the draft reforms package states: "Notwithstanding anything contained in the constitution or any other law for the time being enforced, no person or authority shall declare war or use the armed forces against any foreign government or country without prior approval of the cabinet".
India had mounted a major operation to evict Pakistani troops that occupied strategic heights in the Kargil sector of the Line of Control in 1999.
The PPP first mooted the proposal of including a new article in the constitution on modalities for declaring war last year. The reforms package is now being examined by a parliamentary panel.
{{/usCountry}}The PPP first mooted the proposal of including a new article in the constitution on modalities for declaring war last year. The reforms package is now being examined by a parliamentary panel.
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