KABUL - President Hamid Karzai on Saturday said that the constitution needed amendments for the sake of reforms -- a need spotlighted by past experience.

In his final address to the joint session of parliament, the president said the constitution approval in 2004 was a major stride toward reforming the government system.

Since the enforcement of the constitution, 255 laws had been enacted, he said, adding Afghanistan had evolved its own legislative system.

“Different laws approved by the government need to be coordinated in line with the constitution,” Karzai believed, saying experience of the past decade had thrown into bold relief the need for amendments to the constitution.

According to Article 149, Islamic rules could not be changed but provisions about the rights of nationalities and other issues could be changed, he explained.

The article says: “The principles of adherence to the tenets of Islam shall not be amended. Amending fundamental rights of the people shall be permitted only to improve them.”

Other contents could be amended in line with the requirements of the time. Articles 67 and 146 say the terms could be changed at the suggestion of the president or via a confidential vote by a majority of parliamentarians.

Karzai added: “I am sure Afghans and their future leaders would carefully manage contents of the country’s basic law … My message to present and future leaders is to ensure the freedom of speech.”

Independent media outlets could play an effective role in reinforcing reforms and improving governance, he said.  (Pajhwok)