Finance Ministry, opposition members trade barbs over proposed change, sharply disagree on its implications
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, addressing the National Assembly during Wednesday’s session. Photo: X
Heated exchanges erupted in the National Assembly on Wednesday as lawmakers debated the proposed 27th constitutional amendment. The Treasury dismissed claims that the government intended to roll back the 18th Amendment as both sides traded barbs throughout the session over the scope and intent of the proposed amendment.
Speaking on the floor, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, what he called “false and misleading propaganda”, suggesting that the government was trying to roll back the 18th Amendment. “Let me make this absolutely clear – there is no move to roll back the 18th Amendment under the 27th Amendment. Such politically motivated propaganda must stop,” he said.
Chaudhry emphasized that the government, the ruling party or the prime minister have no intention of weakening the provinces. “There will be no movement that weakens the federation or the provinces,” he reiterated, urging lawmakers to avoid speculation until the formal draft is presented.
He said the draft amendment would first be tabled in the Senate and later in the National Assembly, where members would have full opportunity to review, debate and propose amendments. “Once the draft is presented, each member will have a chance to review its content and raise objections if necessary,” he said.
Read: 27th Amendment — What we know so far
He noted that the constitution was a “living document” and that any amendment required a two-thirds majority in parliament. “Consensus is desirable, but constitutionally, amendments are passed by a two-thirds majority,” he said, adding that the proposed amendments were aimed at strengthening the federation and promoting inter-provincial cooperation.
Responding to criticism of the government’s legitimacy, Chaudhry said that while elections in every era faced scrutiny, the current assemblies had a legal mandate. “If anyone has concerns about the election result, they should go to court instead of questioning the authority of parliament,” he said.
Highlighting national priorities, the minister said consultations would also cover the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, population challenges and a uniform curriculum, which he described as the need of the hour. However, despite the government’s assurances, opposition benches expressed strong reservations about the change, saying the move put the entire federation at risk.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the proposed amendment poses a risk to national unity. “There is widespread concern across the country that the federation is attacking the provinces,” he said, reminding Parliament that the government had taken power with just 16 seats.
“Constitutional amendments are a serious matter,” he said, noting that India has amended its constitution 106 times. “The 18th Amendment was passed unanimously and celebrated by the people, but we have serious reservations about four clauses of the 26th Amendment. At the time, the amendments that were left out of the 26th Amendment, you intended to give them continuity. This was proof that when you passed the 26th Amendment, you believed it was against the Constitution and the law. These amendments were pushed through, and at that time you had attacked the judiciary, but now you are putting the whole union at risk,” he said.
Barrister Gohar added that the provinces were still waiting for the 11th NFC Award and warned that the PTI would protest from inside the assembly. He highlighted that the core issue currently facing the federation is the unresolved NFC Award, noting that the provinces are still awaiting the 11th award which is yet to be announced.
“The most serious issue we are facing today is the NFC price,” Gohar said. “Provinces have been waiting for the 11th award, but the 7th award keeps being extended. Under the 18th amendment, it was required to be brought up again in 2010, but it never happened – and the 8th and 9th awards also failed to take shape.”
He warned that changing this arrangement or reducing provincial shares could destabilize the entire federal structure and undermine the spirit of provincial autonomy. “When the 18th Amendment was passed in 2010, it was clearly ensured that the share of the provinces in any new NFC Award would never be less than before,” he said. “Any attempt to cut this share or concentrate power in the hands of a few individuals would endanger the federation itself,” he added.
Also read: No vote count question for 27th amendment: Vawda
Barrister Gohar argued that the right to amend the Constitution belongs only to those who have a genuine public mandate. “You don’t have that mandate,” he told Treasury. He also urged the authorities to notify Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the leader of the opposition, saying that the PTI had submitted a petition with the support of 74 members. “He is our opposition leader,” he claimed.
Pointing to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, he criticized a ban on transporting wheat to the province and said the KP chief minister had been denied permission to meet PTI founder Imran Khan. “We urge the president to issue a ruling,” he added.
Separately, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar condemned what he described as “deplorable” dismissals of media workers from certain private outlets.
He said the government ensured timely payment to media organizations and the benefits should reach journalists. He said that a charter of demand would be handed over to the Pakistan Broadcasters Association and that digital media still lacked a regulatory framework.
