- Adviser to PM stresses amendments part of democratic process, saying Constitution already amended 26 times
- Says 27th Amendment being needlessly sensationalized, reaffirming PML-N’s ‘no objection’ to 18th Amendment
- Calls for balanced fiscal framework between centre, provinces, stressing defense budget as a ‘shared responsibility’ of federation and provinces
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday said that while a country’s constitution is a sacred document, “it is not immutable nor the final word,” noting that amendments reflecting changing times and governance needs are part of “democratic evolution.”
Speaking to the media, the senior PML-N leader reminded that the Constitution of Pakistan has been amended 26 times, stressing that any further change remains possible whenever two-thirds of parliament agrees. “Changing times and circumstances often require amendments to improve governance and balance powers. Political processes never stop; debate and discussion on different issues are essential features of democracy,” he remarked.
Rana Sanaullah said the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment was being needlessly portrayed as a storm, clarifying that it posed no threat to democracy or the political system. He emphasised that there was no immediate plan to introduce such an amendment, though consultations among parliamentarians and political parties continue on various governance-related issues.
He also reaffirmed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has no objection to the 18th Amendment, which, he recalled, was unanimously passed by all political parties at the time.
Discussing the 18th Amendment, Rana Sanaullah explained that it primarily concerns the distribution of resources between the federation and provinces but argued that a more balanced fiscal framework was now needed to meet national challenges.
“The defence budget is not only the responsibility of the federal government but also of the provinces,” he observed, noting that after defence spending and debt repayments, the federal government’s available resources become limited, underscoring the need for a review of resource-sharing mechanisms.
