‘No move’ on 28th Amendment yet, says Tarar amid political buzz

• Federal Law minister says no ‘immediate discussions’ underway on constitutional changes as any such move requires full coalition consensus

• Stresses constitutional changes could only be introduced through broad-based political agreement

• Says consultations with all stakeholders continue as several national issues remained unresolved and required consensus-based solutions

 LAHORE: Federal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Saturday dismissed reports of any imminent move toward a 28th Constitutional Amendment, saying there were neither “any indications” nor “any immediate discussions” on the matter, while stressing that any such move would only proceed after extensive consultations with coalition partners.

“Constitutional amendments are not possible without consultation with coalition partners and, in the case of the 28th Amendment, all coalition partners would first be taken into confidence,” Tarar said while speaking to journalists after attending a conference on minority rights in Lahore.

He maintained that constitutional changes could only be introduced through broad-based political agreement, recalling that the landmark 18th Amendment was also passed through consensus among political parties.

“Constitutional changes can be introduced, but only if an agreement is reached,” he emphasized.

The law minister said consultations with all stakeholders were continuing as several national issues remained unresolved and required consensus-based solutions. He added that legislation and constitutional reforms were part of an ongoing democratic process rather than a new development.

Responding to a question, Tarar disclosed that issues such as population control and the possible creation of Hazara and Saraiki provinces were among matters currently under discussion.

He further noted that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had long been demanding constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening local government systems.

Tarar said the coalition government, which had remained in place for several years, had faced multiple political and governance challenges that could only be addressed through consensus and cooperation among allied parties.

His remarks came days after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari clarified that neither he nor President Asif Ali Zardari had been approached by the government regarding any proposed constitutional amendment.

“President Zardari and I remain in contact with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but the government has not contacted the PPP regarding any constitutional amendment,” Bilawal said while addressing a press conference after chairing the PPP parliamentary party meeting at Parliament House in Islamabad on Thursday.

The PPP chairman also ruled out any immediate talks with the federal government on a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment, saying he would comment further if any formal development emerged.

“No talks have taken place yet on the 28th Amendment; [but] I do not know about tomorrow,” he remarked during the parliamentary party meeting.

Bilawal said the PPP’s role in the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments was well known, adding that his party had protected and further strengthened provincial autonomy instead of allowing any rollback of provincial rights.

“We did not allow the rights of the provinces to be reduced; instead, we expanded them. Through our amendments, Balochistan’s representation in the Senate increased,” he said.

The debate over a possible 28th Amendment intensified after Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik recently rejected impressions that any future amendment would seek to dilute the 18th Amendment.

“This impression being created that if the 28th Amendment is introduced, it is a rollback of the 18th Amendment — I believe an extremely false impression is being created,” Malik said during a television talk show.

He added that no official work was currently underway on any constitutional amendment, though broader national issues had been discussed at different forums in the past.

Last November, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah had said that a 28th Constitutional Amendment focusing on “public issues” could be introduced if political consensus emerged among major stakeholders.