Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. SCREEN GRAB
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has described the proposed 27th constitutional amendment as an attempt to trample the constitution.
According to the KP CM, a government allegedly formed on the basis of a fraudulent election cannot be allowed to tamper with a unanimous national document.
“The current government in power has only 17 [genuinely acquired] seats [in the National Assembly] in total – they have neither a public mandate nor authority to amend the constitution,” Afridi, who belongs to PTI, said on Sunday. The CM was responding to a reporter during his visit to a station of Peshawar’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service.
The PML-N led federal government has tabled the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Senate, proposing a number of amendments to the constitutions, including one related to the formation of the Federal Constitutional Court.
The alliance of the country’s main opposition parties – TTAP, which includes the PTI – has rejected the proposed changes, warning that the proposed tweaks to the constitution would shake the very foundations of the country.
In line with the oppositions’ view, CM Afridi stated that the ruling coalition now wanted to “trample the constitution” under its feet. The PTI and some other political parties claim that the February 2024 general elections were massively rigged to prevent Imran’s party from forming a government.
In response to another question, he announced that the KP government will convene a grand jirga on November 12 to chalk out a path for eradication of terrorism and lasting peace.
“Legislators, former parliamentarians and MPAs and leaders of political parties will be invited to participate so that a permanent solution for peace and stability can be achieved,” he said.
Afridi also announced the extension of BRT service to Jamrud Tedi Bazaar and Bara Bazaar in Khyber District. He said the BRT service in Peshawar is a gift from his leader PTI founder Imran Khan to the people of KP.
“The BRT provides a quality and affordable transportation service to the poor and middle class,” he said. The CM revealed that to reduce passenger traffic in the BRT buses, his government has purchased 50 new buses and it will soon procure another 50.
Furthermore, the service will be extended to more areas so that a larger number of people can benefit from it. During the visit, the CM interacted with citizens and inquired about their views regarding the service.
Accompanied by elected legislators and the Chief Secretary, he traveled by BRT from University of Peshawar Station to Karkhano Station, talking to passengers en route.
