Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah distributed compensation checks to the victims of Gul Plaza incident at a ceremony held at the Chief Minister House in Karachi. SCREEN CAPTURE
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday categorically rejected reports of any 28th constitutional amendment, saying no legislation was possible without the consent of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Speaking to reporters after Eid prayers in Sehwan, the Sindh chief minister said that no discussion had taken place within the party on the proposed amendment nor had any draft been submitted.
“No one has talked about dividing the province or the city, and nothing has been discussed about the National Finance Commission (NFC) award revisions. I categorically state that no draft has been shared with the PPP,” he said.
CM Shah added that no constitutional amendment could be passed without the consent of the PPP and only the media was speculating on this matter.
On the upcoming provincial budget, he said the new fiscal plan would be “challenging” due to rising inflation, which he linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
He said the Sindh budget would be “people-friendly” and added that any decision on salary hikes would be taken in consultation with the federal government.
Read: There is no progress towards the 28th constitutional amendment, says the Minister of Justice
Rumors circulate about the 28th Amendment; However, the government and the PPP have categorically denied them.
The debate intensified further when the Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Adviser Rana Sanaullah said The government planned to raise the voting age during discussions on the proposed amendment.
Rejecting speculation about the PML-N-led government’s plans to introduce another package of constitutional amendments, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said there is currently “no sign” of the 28th amendment. “Any progress towards constitutional changes will only be made after consultation with coalition partners and other stakeholders,” he said.
Information Minister Atta Tarar later dismissed rumors circulating that the government was considering raising the minimum age for voters to 25, saying there was no need to respond to unverified claims.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also said his party had not been consulted on any proposed constitutional changes, signaling new tensions within the ruling coalition over key legislative issues and the upcoming federal budget.
Also read: The PPP despises the government’s 28th adjustment plan
Bilawal said that while he and President Asif Ali Zardari remained in touch with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government had not yet formally engaged the PPP in any new legislative plan.
He also underlined the party’s central role in the coalition’s parliamentary strength, warning that constitutional amendments and budget approval would not be possible without the PPP’s support.
“The government has not approached the PPP regarding any new constitutional amendment,” Bilawal said, adding that the party had not been given confidence on the matter.
