ISLAMABAD, Nov 05 (APP): Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Wednesday rejected what he called “false and misleading propaganda” claiming that the government planned to roll back the18th Constitutional Amendment through the proposed 27th Amendment.
Speaking in the National Assembly, he made it clear that neither the government, the ruling party, nor the Prime Minister had any intention of reversing the 18th Amendment.
“Let me make it absolutely clear — there is no move to roll back the 18th Amendment under the 27th Amendment. Such politically motivated propaganda must stop,” he said.
Dr. Tariq said the proposed amendment was being misrepresented by some political circles 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 proposed 27th Amendment were still premature since 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 tabled,” he said, adding that the current comments were based only on speculation.
“Once the draft is presented, every member will have a chance to review its contents and raise objections if necessary,” he added.
Responding to criticism about the government’s mandate, the minister said that although elections in every period faced scrutiny, the current assemblies had a legitimate mandate. “If anyone has concerns about the election results, they should go to court instead of questioning Parliament’s authority,” he said.
Dr. Tariq said the Constitution was a “living document” and that any amendment required a two-thirds majority in Parliament. “Consensus is desirable, but constitutionally, amendments are passed with a two-thirds majority,” he explained.
He said the purpose 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 National Assembly and then shared with all parliamentary committees, Chief Whip for detailed review, input. “We will provide the draft for review and hold discussions afterward. Please do not make it controversial before it is even tabled,” he added.
Dr. Tariq 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 remarks about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the minister appreciated members for highlighting the province’s issues, particularly terrorism. “I appreciate that our colleagues mentioned KP and its challenges, especially the people’s courage in fighting terrorism for years,” he said.
He added that the federal government stood with the people of KP and other provinces in addressing national issues, including terrorism and economic difficulties.