The Minister of State for Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, has announced that the government aims to finalise and table the 28th Constitutional Amendment before the month of April. He emphasised that the amendment’s provisions are directly linked to the upcoming federal budget. Therefore, its timely completion is critical for the nation’s financial planning.
Speaking in a televised interview on ARY News, the minister clarified that the government will only move forward after establishing a broad political consensus. He outlined that key national issues, including the NFC Award, Article 140-A, and comprehensive local government reforms, are central to the amendment’s agenda. Barrister Malik stated that once formal consultations begin, the drafting process could be completed within a two to four-month timeframe.
The minister reiterated that reforming local government laws is a primary objective. He stated that strengthening local bodies requires necessary constitutional adjustments. Sharing his personal view, he expressed that local government elections should not be conducted on a non-party basis. This would allow for clearer political accountability.
Read: What Changes Did the National Assembly Make to the Senate-Approved 27th Amendment?
On other institutional matters, Barrister Malik noted that the Federal Constitutional Court has become fully operational and has already issued three judgments. He expressed confidence that this would help clear the longstanding backlog of cases. Regarding judicial appointments, he stated that judges have the right to resign at their discretion. Moreover, he commented that he does not foresee any major political agitation emerging at the current moment.
Addressing the issue of dual nationality, the Law Minister asserted that since politicians are barred from holding dual citizenship, the same standard should logically apply to bureaucrats. However, he noted that a major coalition partner did not agree with this proposal. This indicates a point of ongoing discussion within the government.
He affirmed that the government remains committed to involving all coalition partners in discussions regarding the 28th Amendment. Specifically, these discussions include the NFC Award and other national issues. Additionally, he added that the commitments made with the MQM-P would also be finalised before the budget is presented.
The minister concluded by reaffirming the April deadline for the constitutional amendment. He stressed its intrinsic connection to the federal budget cycle and the government’s broader economic planning.
