By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in a chaotic session marked by opposition protests, walkouts and heated exchanges, paving the way for the creation of a federal constitutional court and other reforms long envisioned under the country’s Charter of Democracy.
The measure, which passed with 234 votes in favor and four against, now returns to the Senate for further debate on new amendments before final approval. It comes as the government grapples with a resurgence of terrorist attacks, including a suicide bombing in the capital and an assault on a school in Wana, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to accuse neighboring Afghanistan and India of involvement.
The session drew top political leaders, including Sharif, his brother and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. As the prime minister, Nawaz Sharif and Bhutto-Zardari entered the chamber, members of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tore up copies of the bill and hurled them toward the prime minister’s chair. PML-N lawmakers quickly formed a human shield around the Sharifs to block any approach. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, who introduced the bill, faced immediate disruption as opposition members gathered near the speaker’s dais in protest before staging a walkout.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, announcing the vote tally, urged dialogue between the sides, saying he was ready to facilitate talks. “We will find ways out when you hold talks,” Sadiq said. “If you want to find an excuse not to hold negotiations, then it is our bad luck. Accept my offer, hold talks. You will get results through talks.”
The PML-N-led coalition, holding a commanding majority in the 336-member house with support from the PPP and smaller allies, easily secured the two-thirds threshold needed for constitutional changes. The PML-N controls 125 seats, the PPP 74, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan 22, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid five, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party four, and others one each. The opposition holds 103 seats.
In his address, Prime Minister Sharif hailed the vote as a display of national unity. “The house exhibited solidarity and national unity was promoted,” he said, thanking lawmakers on behalf of himself and the nation. Sharif turned sharply to security threats, condemning the “dastardly” terrorist attempt in Wana that evoked memories of the 2014 Army Public School massacre in Peshawar. “These khawarij, in which unfortunately Afghans were also involved, were all sent to hell and all cadets, students and teachers were safely rescued,” he said. “I want to congratulate the nation on this and want to thank the army and law enforcement agencies who exhibited professionalism and saved the nation’s youth.”
He also addressed the suicide blast in Islamabad, saying “it was no hidden matter now that the hand of terrorists was plain to see in such incidents.” Reiterating his earlier accusations of Indian involvement and “footprints of Afghanistan,” Sharif dismissed India’s denial. “I don’t need to say a lot,” he said. “The terrorists who abducted a train in Balochistan, the Jaffer Express, we brought its evidence before the whole world how TTP and BLA were active from Afghanistan and were in contact with terrorists there and also with their supporters in India. We presented these facts before the whole world and no one challenged or rebutted them.”
Sharif equated denying the involvement of Pakistan’s enemies to “calling day as night and vice versa.” “I want to say something with great satisfaction and force to these terrorist elements and enemies of Pakistan that we are fully aware of your actions and we have given you a befitting response before and will do so again as well.”
On talks with Afghanistan mediated in Turkey, Sharif said Pakistan’s sole demand over the past two years has been for the Afghan Taliban to curb terrorist groups operating from their territory. “We believe what is good for Pakistan is good for them and vice versa but this cannot happen that they make false promises and then don’t clamp down [on terrorists],” he said.
Noting the Afghan foreign minister’s recent visit to India, Sharif added: “We are perfectly understanding these messages but I still want to take advantage of the opportunity and say: come, sit with a sincere heart and clamp down on terrorists, give a commitment and we will fully walk with you so there is peace in the whole region and it becomes a centre of prosperity and development.”
Turning to the amendment, Sharif thanked President Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Bhutto-Zardari and allies, saying it fulfilled the Charter of Democracy’s vision for a constitutional court. “I also want to thank Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi for supporting us within the ambit of the Constitution.” Sharif noted the Supreme Court chief justice would continue heading key bodies like the Supreme Judicial Council and Judicial Commission of Pakistan.
Bhutto-Zardari, whose speech was interrupted by PTI sloganeering for imprisoned party founder Imran Khan and displays of his photos, condemned the recent attacks. “I want to remind the elected representatives in this house, whether in opposition or treasury benches, that we can have political and ideological differences, but as far as this country’s security and enemies, and combating these terrorists [is concerned], not only this house but the entire country should unite in facing them,” he said.
On the amendment, Bhutto-Zardari said the PPP sought consensus, as in the 1973 Constitution and 18th Amendment. He noted PTI and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl initially supported a constitutional bench, and their concerns were addressed. “In the 27th Amendment, we are about to fulfil the unfulfilled promises of the Charter of Democracy,” he said. “We are about to establish constitutional courts and in Article 243 — after defeating India, the prime minister decided to make the army chief the field marshal — not only are we providing constitutional protection to that rank of field marshal, but also bringing some changes to the defence institutions.”
Tarar, the law minister, clarified amendments to remove confusion over the chief justice’s continuity. “To remove this confusion, I will introduce an appropriate amendment in which it will be clarified that the current CJP … will remain the CJP.” He added the constitutional court to Article 6’s list barring ratification of constitutional abrogation.
PTI’s Shehryar Khan Afridi called the amendment a “scar on the face of democracy” and “simple mockery,” alleging haste to protect the government. He criticized proposed presidential immunity. “Had President Asif Ali Zardari refused this relief, his respect and honour would have increased. But today, his actions have resulted in not just the funeral of his honour, but also the PPP’s.” PkMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai spoke first, though parts were disrupted on the assembly’s live feed.
The bill, which cleared the Senate Monday amid protests, awaits Senate reconsideration and presidential assent.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
