Soon after being elected to office, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif moved to repeal the controversial Eighth Amendment. The discretionary powers of the President under the Eighth Amendment were done away with the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment. The Thirteenth Amendment act was passed on April 4, 1997. The National Assembly confirmed it unanimously. The most significant amendment was the end of the article 58(2) b of the Constitution, which empowered the President of Pakistan to dismiss the Government and the National Assembly. The power of the governor to dissolve the Provincial Assemblies under article 112(2) b was also done away with. The discretionary power of the President to appoint the chiefs of the armed forces was also taken away. The discretionary power of the President to dissolve the National Assembly under the Eight Amendment had led to the removal of governments elected in 1985, 1988, 1990 and 1993.