News Analysis |
Asad Qaiser, prominent Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader and National Assembly Speaker, has ruled out any consideration to revoke the 18th constitutional amendment, a local news channel reported.
While speaking in a ceremony in Swabi, Mr. Asad said, “Centre enjoying limited powers and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement regarding the amendment should not be taken wrongly.”
On Sunday, addressing a rally at Khangarh in Ghotki, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said after the 18th Amendment, the federation has become bankrupt.
PPP was staging informal protests against the PTI for being anti-democracy because of its unclear stance over the 18th amendment. Now the ruling party has made it clear that there was nothing like the revocation of the amendment.
Mr. Asad also said that the center had to face fiscal shortfall to the tune of Rs600 billion due to debt servicing, federal transfers to the provinces and defenses budget that leaves nothing for development. But there was no plan to revoke the 18th amendment.
PM Khan’s spokesperson also clarified that he is not against the 18th amendment.
PM #ImranKhan not against 18th amendment and Govt is not going to change it, says PM's Spokesman Nadeem Afzal Chan https://t.co/kxpagW2vvb
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) April 2, 2019
It important to note that the revocation of the said amendment is often highlighted by the opposition and particularly by Pakistan Peoples’ Party. Back in the month of February, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had also dispelled the ‘rumors’ of reversing the 18th Amendment and clarified that there was no threat to the democracy,18 Amendment, or the constitution in the country.
Read more: PPP’s apprehensions over the 18th Amendment: Propaganda or struggle for provincial…
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan to tender an apology for his statement against 18th Amendment and the Constitution of Pakistan. Addressing the press here, the PPP chairman maintained that the prime minister insulted the constitution and the people in Ghotki.
The said amendment has brought many significant changes to the 1973 constitution e.g. renaming of N.W.F.P as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, end of presidential powers, more fiscal power to provinces and removal of concurrent list from the constitution. It intended to empower the provinces by giving complete autonomy over their respective education policy.
Read more: PM has never asked for rolling back 18th amendment: Farogh Nasim
Now the ruling party has clarified the matter that it has no intentions to repeal the 18th amendment, therefore, the anti-government narrative by the opposition may get a set-back. PPP was staging informal protests against the PTI for being anti-democracy because of its unclear stance over the 18th amendment. Now the ruling party has made it clear that there was nothing like the revocation of the amendment.