No vote count question for 27th amendment: Vawda

Senator Faisal Vawda has said the proposed 27th constitutional amendment has enough parliamentary support for approval, dismissing concerns over coalition numbers. He also said that the 18th Amendment would not be repealed, while adding that discussions had already begun on proposals for a 28th Amendment.

Vawda met Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad on Wednesday as consultations continued among political parties on the draft amendment.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “There is no question of numbers” for the passage of the 27th Amendment and that Rehman would review and understand the clauses. “Maulana Sahib is very important for Pakistan’s survival and security,” he said, calling the JUI-F chief “a strong politician” who plays a major role in the national mainstream.

Vawda said consultations on the change were underway across political parties, adding that he had already started work on the next phase. “As the country progresses, changes will continue to come,” he said.

He stated that measures necessary for Pakistan’s security and administrative efficiency will be included in the amendment. He mentioned changes related to transfers, postings and age-related provisions, but emphasized that the 18th Amendment was not rolled back. He said the government provided Rs2 trillion to the provinces and consensual adjustments would not be harmful.

Referring to Article 243, Vawda argued that it did not only apply to armed conflict on land. “It also includes economic and cyber fronts,” he said. “If we need to strengthen all three services, we will do that – we will strengthen them so that the defense is safe.”

Read: 27th Amendment — What we know so far

He said the 27th Amendment was likely to pass without any problems. “If there is any ambiguity, ‘flight on board’ is available,” he noted. He added that Rehman would make his own decision and described the meeting as part of routine political discussion.

Commenting on the party’s positions, Vawda said that the Pakistan Peoples Party was the guarantor of the system and would not allow a rollback. He suggested that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should be taken into confidence but said it would be PTI’s choice to participate in consultations.

He also noted political alliances, saying that the 27th Amendment ‘has taken off’ and described Asif Ali Zardari as ‘a major political player’ with a strong political dynamism along with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He welcomed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for ‘rising up from the grassroots’ and said the PTI should engage in ‘positive politics’ if it wanted to be part of the change process.