**The parliament of Pakistan has voted unanimously to approve measures which limits key presidential powers.**The measures transfer certain powers from the office of the president to the prime minister and takes away his power to dismiss elected governments.
Supporters say the legislation will strengthen parliamentary democracy, weakened by periods of military rule.
The bill was approved unanimously by Pakistan’s national assembly. It now needs approval from the upper house.
The constitution as it stands confers vast powers on the president, including the power to appoint military chiefs and the head of the election commission. The president can also dismiss all or any of the central or provincial governments in Pakistan.
Correspondents say the bill is likely to be approved by the upper house - or senate - as all the major political parties have signed the draft. Once it is approved, it will pass into law.
“The impossible has been made possible by the house today,” Pakistan’s prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told lawmakers in a speech.This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.