Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Monday that if there is political consensus, a 28th Constitutional Amendment could be introduced, which would address “public issues”.
Last week, President Asif Ali Zardari gave his consent to the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment, signing it into law.
Speaking to reporters in Chiniot, the Prime Minister’s aide said the amendment would address “public issues such as local bodies, people, National Finance Commission… health-related issues”.
“There is a need to review how we can better serve the people according to the current needs of the provinces and the Centre,” Sanaullah said.
“This is being discussed and if there is some consensus, then we can take forward the 28th Amendment,” the PML-N leader said.
Referring to the recent resignations of Supreme Court and LHC judges, the Prime Minister’s aide said “those who resigned did so for personal reasons.”
He argued that parliament has the constitutional right to pass amendments, while judges must protect the laws of the state.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced in the Senate on November 8, just hours after it was approved by the federal cabinet in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz via video link from Baku. It was later referred to the parliamentary standing committees on law and justice, which approved it the next day with some minor changes to the initial draft.
The bill proposed the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), as well as changes to the structure of military leadership.
The Minister of Justice presented it to the Senate for a vote on November 10. The controversial bill was approved by the upper house of Parliament after 64 lawmakers voted in favor of it, and opposition members staged a noisy walkout. The PML-N-led coalition government had managed to secure a two-thirds majority to pass the bill with the unexpected support of two opposition senators who voted against their party lines.
On November 12, the bill was passed by the National Assembly after the introduction of some changes, mainly related to the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
In the 336-member chamber, 224 votes were needed to reach the mandatory two-thirds majority for passage of the bill. The ruling legislators cast 234 votes in favor, while JUI-F members voted four against the bill. The JUI-F has 10 MNAs, but only four attended the session. Meanwhile, PTI members boycotted the process by organizing a strike.
However, the bill was returned to the Senate due to the new changes and was approved after a second round of voting amid opposition protests.
