Information Minister Attaullah Tarar dismissed speculation about a potential 27th constitutional amendment shortly after the government secured a two-thirds majority for a constitutional package in parliament.
In an interview with a local news channel on Monday, Tarar stated, “No discussions on the 27th constitutional amendment took place in any government or legal committee meetings.”
This clarification follows reports of a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Lahore, where they allegedly discussed an amendment focused on provincial rights. However, Tarar insisted that no draft or discussions on such an amendment have occurred at any official level.
He described the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment as a significant step in legal reforms, aligning with the Charter of Democracy signed in 2006 by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif. Tarar noted that this amendment aims to enhance access to justice and expedite case processing. He mentioned the formation of a special parliamentary committee, chaired by PPP leader Khurshid Shah, to explore further legal reforms.
“If parliament sees a need for additional reforms, the committee should proceed with its work,” he stated, highlighting the importance of legislative development for democracy and parliamentary sovereignty.
Regarding Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar’s inclusion in the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Committee, Tarar expressed no concerns but voiced reservations about the Supreme Court’s July 12 ruling, which allowed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to keep reserved seats for minorities and women in parliament. He argued that the decision overlooked constitutional provisions and urged the court to align its judgments with the Election Act Amendment Bill 2024. Tarar also addressed PTI’s previous discussions on the 26th Amendment, asserting that the party had resolved its reservations. He criticized PTI’s recent protests as attempts at “political point-scoring,” noting the party appears divided with factions supporting different strategies.
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