ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly today [April 10] adopted the Constitution Bill, thus paving the way for the country to have a permanent Constitution the first to be made by the directly-elected representatives of the people. The unanimous adoption of the Bill by the House followed hectic negotiations between the ruling party and the Opposition which resulted in the return of the Opposition members to the House after a 16-day boycott. ...

The last-minute outside-the-House bargaining which was dramatically initiated by the Law Minister, Mr Abdul Hafiz Pirzada, last night resulted in the ruling party conceding the Opposition`s demand for amending eight controversial Articles and two items in the Schedule.

...[T]he President, after leading the talks to a successful conclusion, entered the House exactly at 2 p.m. and in a conciliatory speech ... complimented all sections of the House for their contribution to the unanimous passage of the Constitution. ... Everyone in the House, including those in the visitors` galleries, looked moved when requested by the President, Maulana Mufti Mahmud rose in his seat ... to offer thanks to the Almighty for this day and pray for the country`s future. Special Representative