ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan leader Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan has demanded the withdrawal of the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
While addressing the National Assembly today, Khawaja Izhar said that after the 18th Amendment, the provinces have effectively become autonomous states.
He said that as a result of the constitutional amendment, the powers of the federal government have been limited while the provincial governments have been given extraordinary powers.
The MQM leader added that the 18th Amendment should be reviewed for the balance of powers and effective governance in the country.
“The role of the federation has been weakened in some matters in the current system, due to which uniform policy-making at the national level is being affected,” he maintained.
The MQM leader demanded that consideration be given to rolling back the 18th Amendment or making necessary changes in it so that the balance of powers between the federation and the provinces can be maintained.
It should be noted that the 18th Constitutional Amendment was passed in 2010, under which several powers were transferred from the federation to the provinces.
PPP opposes tweaks in 18th Amendment
Earlier on Thursday, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said that any move to amend the 18th Constitutional Amendment would undermine the spirit of the Constitution.
The party gathered constitutional experts, journalists, and civil and human rights activists, where they agreed that moving Karachi under federal control, reducing provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, would also undermine the spirit of the Constitution.
Speaking at a seminar, PPP leader and former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani said the 18th Amendment was passed with the consensus of all political forces and has become an integral part of the Constitution.
“Those who are unhappy with it are essentially objecting to the enhanced constitutional and financial rights granted to the provinces,” he said.
