PTI’s Gohar calls it ‘attack on Parliament’; Fazl warns coercive changes will erode public trust
ISLAMABAD:
Opposition lawmakers on Wednesday went all out in the National Assembly against the proposed 27th constitutional amendment, which has sparked a political storm in the country at a time when the Supreme Court is already hearing petitions challenging the 26th amendment.
Speaking in the lower house of parliament, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan denounced the proposed new changes to the 1973 Constitution as “an attack on the House”, promising that his party would continue to raise its voice against the move.
Recalling the events surrounding the passage of the 26th Amendment, Gohar said the PTI, along with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, had made “great efforts” to block it.
“Maybe this time we won’t need to visit his (Fazl’s) residence or sit with you in a committee,” he said, speaking directly to the vice president who chaired the session. “We will raise our voice against this because it is an attack on the House,” he added.
“Whenever there is a constitutional amendment anywhere in the world, it is done by consensus and in accordance with the needs of the country,” the PTI chairman said.
He called the 27th Amendment “contrary to the spirit of this House and the Constitution,” warning that the country cannot afford further divisions. He also insisted that no amendments be introduced that would put more pressure on the justice system.
“Amending the Constitution is the right of this House – and this House belongs to those who have the mandate of the people,” Gohar said. “Our democracy is fragile; the people have no confidence in the courts.”
He reminded the vice president that when the 18th Amendment was passed in 2010, it was passed “with consensus and in unity with the people.”
“The world recognized and celebrated it,” Gohar said. “However, when you brought the 26th amendment, you brought 56 amendments, which were reduced to 25, then 18. We strongly opposed four of these amendments, including on the constitutional judiciary, the tenure of judges and the retention of the Election Commission.
“This is a time when the nation is divided; tensions are high, terrorism is on the rise, [trade] the deficit is growing and people can no longer bear new problems. Please be concerned about the security of Pakistan,” he said while addressing the Treasury benches.
Following the opposition’s onslaught, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry rejected what he called “false and misleading propaganda”, suggesting that the government intended to roll back the 18th constitutional amendment through the 27th amendment.
He made it clear that neither the ruling party nor the Prime Minister had any intention of rolling back the 18th Amendment. “Let me be absolutely clear: There is no move to roll back the 18th Amendment through the 27th Amendment. Such politically motivated propaganda must stop,” he added.
Chaudhry said the proposed amendment had been distorted by some political circles for personal gain. He reaffirmed that the government was fully committed to respecting the spirit of the Constitution and strengthening parliamentary democracy.
He said discussions on the proposed 27th amendment were still premature since the official draft had not yet been presented to the National Assembly.
“It would be more appropriate for members to give their views once the document is officially tabled,” he said, adding that the current comments were only based on speculation. “Once the draft is presented, each member will have the opportunity to examine its content and raise objections if necessary,” he added.
Responding to criticism over the government’s mandate, Chaudhry said that while every election has been subject to scrutiny, the current assemblies have a legitimate mandate. “If anyone has concerns about the election results, they should go to court instead of questioning the authority of Parliament,” he said.
The minister said the Constitution was a “living document” and any amendment required a two-thirds majority in Parliament. “Consensus is desirable, but constitutionally, amendments are adopted by a two-thirds majority,” he explained.
He said the aim of the 27th Amendment was to strengthen the federation and promote cooperation among provinces, not to weaken provincial autonomy.
The minister added that the draft amendment would first be presented before the Senate and the National Assembly and then shared with all parliamentary committees for detailed review and comments. “We will submit the draft for review and hold discussions thereafter. Please do not make it controversial even before it is tabled,” he added.
Chaudhry said the government believed in dialogue and not confrontation. “We are determined to strengthen the federation and promote unity among all provinces. No steps will be taken that weaken national harmony,” he said.
Referring to the remarks on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the minister appreciated the members for highlighting the problems of the province, including terrorism. “I appreciate that our colleagues mentioned the KP and its challenges, especially the courage of the people in fighting terrorism for years,” he said.
He added that the federal government stood with the people of KP and other provinces to resolve national issues including terrorism and economic woes.
Meanwhile, expressing concern over reports of a new amendment being prepared under external influence, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman warned that the Constitution should not be turned into a “toy”.
Speaking after a meeting with Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Mahmood Achakzai, he said coercive constitutional changes would erode public trust, adding that the opposition was yet to receive the draft of the 27th Amendment but would form a common position once it received it.
He revealed that a minister had been working on the amendment for three months, implying that the proposal did not come from the government. “When amendments are made under pressure, what confidence will there be left in the Constitution?” » he asked, recalling that his party had previously forced the withdrawal of 34 clauses of the 26th Amendment.
After the meeting, PTI leader Asad Qaiser told reporters that the opposition would take a united stand in parliament and decide on a collective strategy. Thanking Fazl for hosting the dinner, Qaiser said the JUI-F leader expressed full support to Achakzai and urged that his notification as opposition leader be issued without delay.
