Debate on the 28th amendment would weaken country’s future: Nisar Khuhro

Debate on the 28th amendment would weaken country’s future: Nisar Khuhro

By Qurban Ali Khushik

KARACHI, October 23: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Friday said the PML-N-led federal government lacked the required two-thirds majority in Parliament to pass the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment, warning that debate over the amendment would weaken the country’s future.

He also said that governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was not intended to remain in force for an extended period and could be withdrawn if political parties agreed on a joint action plan to combat terrorism in the province.

Khuhro expressed these views while addressing a press conference in the committee room of the Sindh Assembly in Karachi. On the occasion, Aiman Saleem, daughter of former cricketer Saleem Yousuf, announced her decision to join the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Khuhro said discussion on the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment was premature, as any constitutional amendment required a two-thirds majority in Parliament. He maintained that even if the federal government secured the support of its other allies, it would still fall short of the required numbers.

Responding to a question about governor’s rule in KP, he said the province’s law and order situation had remained a serious concern for many years. Under the Constitution, he added, governor’s rule could be imposed when the law and order situation deteriorated beyond acceptable limits.

He said the President of Pakistan had signed the summary for imposing governor’s rule in KP following approval by the federal cabinet on the advice of the prime minister. However, he stressed that the arrangement was not intended to continue for a long period.

Khuhro said the government had not closed the doors to negotiations with political parties over the situation in KP. He alleged that the former provincial chief minister had not shown willingness to confront terrorists, adding that governor’s rule could be ended if political parties reached an agreement on a comprehensive action plan against terrorism.

He recalled that governor’s rule had been imposed in Pakistan on previous occasions, citing Sindh in 1951 as the first instance and referring to its imposition in Sindh during the rule of General Zia-ul-Haq.

Criticising the PTI’s past approach to negotiations with militant groups, Khuhro alleged that members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had been released from prisons in Afghanistan and brought to Pakistan for resettlement during Imran Khan’s government. He said the government at the time had also held negotiations and reached agreements with the Taliban and the TTP. He further alleged that the PTI was still unwilling to take action against terrorists.

Commenting on the political situation in KP, Khuhro said Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), had extensive political experience and had witnessed numerous ups and downs in national politics. He said both the federal government and opposition parties had approached the JUI-F chief to play a role in addressing the situation.

Khuhro added that Fazlur Rehman could still contribute to resolving the prevailing political crisis because, according to him, he had never supported terrorists.

On the question of creating new provinces, the PPP Sindh president said the Constitution clearly defined the procedure, requiring a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority in the assembly of the concerned province before a new province could be created.

He said the Sindh Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution opposing the creation of a new province or any alteration to Sindh’s boundaries.

“If new provinces are to be created, they should be considered in Gilgit and Punjab,” he said, adding that any such proposal should proceed if the relevant assemblies supported it.

Khuhro questioned the demands for administrative units in Sindh, arguing that the province already had administrative divisions. He alleged that discussions about creating new provinces and administrative units were being revived to generate political unrest.

Meanwhile, Aiman Saleem formally announced her decision to join the PPP, expressing confidence in the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Faryal Talpur.

She said she wanted to serve the country and its people through the PPP platform, adding that the party had empowered women. Khuhro welcomed her into the party on the occasion.