PTI’s Gohar calls it an “attack on parliament”; Fazl warns that coercive changes will erode public trust
ISLAMABAD:
On Wednesday, opposition lawmakers came out in full force in the National Assembly against the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, which has sparked a political storm in the country at a time when the apex court is already busy with 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”, and vowed 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.
“Perhaps this time we will not need to visit his (Fazl’s) residence or sit with you in a committee,” he said, addressing directly the vice president presiding over the session. “We will raise our voice against this as 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 according to the needs of the country,” the PTI president said.
He described the 27th Amendment as “contrary to the spirit of this House and the Constitution,” and warned that the country cannot afford any more divisions. He also urged that no changes be introduced that would put more pressure on the judiciary.
“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; people have no faith in the courts.”
He reminded the vice president that when the 18th Amendment was passed in 2010, it was enacted “with consensus and in unity with the people.”
“The world recognized it and celebrated it,” Gohar said. “However, when he introduced the 26th Amendment, he introduced 56 amendments, which were reduced to 25 and then to 18. We strongly opposed four of those amendments, including constitutional bench, tenure of judges and preservation of the Election Commission.
“This is a time when the nation is divided; tensions are rising, terrorism is on the rise, [trade] The deficit is increasing and people cannot bear any more problems. Please worry about the security of Pakistan,” he said addressing the Treasury benches.
Following the opposition attack, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry dismissed what he described as “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 repealing the 18th Amendment. “Let me make it absolutely clear: there is no measure to roll back the 18th Amendment to the 27th Amendment. Such politically motivated propaganda must stop,” he added.
Chaudhry said some political circles were twisting the proposed amendment for personal gain. He reaffirmed that the government was fully committed to upholding the spirit of the Constitution and strengthening parliamentary democracy.
He clarified that discussions on the 27th Amendment proposal were still premature as the official draft had not yet been presented in the National Assembly.
“It would be more appropriate for members to give their views once the document is formally presented,” he said, adding that the current comments are based only on speculation. “Once the draft is presented, each member will have the opportunity to review its content and raise objections if necessary,” he added.
Responding to criticism over the government’s mandate, Chaudhry said that although every election has come under scrutiny, the current assemblies have a legitimate mandate. “If anyone has doubts 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 approved with a two-thirds majority,” he explained.
He said the purpose of the 27th Amendment was to strengthen the federation and promote cooperation between provinces, not to weaken provincial autonomy.
The minister added that the draft amendment would first be presented to the Senate and the National Assembly and then shared with all parliamentary committees for detailed review and inputs. “We will provide the draft for your review and have discussions afterwards. Please do not create controversy before it is submitted,” he added.
Chaudhry said the government believed in dialogue, not confrontation. “We are committed to strengthening the federation and promoting unity among all provinces. No step will be taken that weakens national harmony,” he said.
Referring to the comments on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the minister thanked the members for highlighting the problems of the province, particularly terrorism. “I appreciate that our colleagues have mentioned KP and its challenges, especially the courage of the people in the fight against terrorism for years,” he said.
He added that the federal government supported the people of KP and other provinces in addressing national problems, including terrorism and economic difficulties.
Meanwhile, expressing concern over reports that a new amendment is being prepared under external influence, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman warned that the Constitution should not become 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 had not yet received the draft of the 27th Amendment but would form a joint position once it received it.
He revealed that a minister had been working on the amendment for three months, implying that the proposal had not emerged within the government. “When amendments are made under pressure, what confidence will be left in the Constitution?” he questioned, 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 chief had expressed his full support for Achakzai and urged that his notification as opposition leader be issued without delay.
