The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday reiterated its opposition to any attempt to further amend the Constitution, as meetings between senior members of the ruling coalition trigger speculation over a potential 27th Amendment after the successful passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Appearing on Geo News, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram emphasized his party would oppose any and all attempts to amend the Constitution, as it did not consider the incumbent Parliament a legitimate representative of the public. Since the Feb. 8 general elections, the PTI has repeatedly alleged electoral rigging, maintaining its mandate was “stolen.”
Earlier, the PTI had similarly opposed the recently-enacted 26th Constitutional Amendment, which focused on judicial reforms, altering the appointment process for the chief justice of Pakistan and increasing parliamentary participation in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan.
According to Akram, the government should attempt to curry its support through transparency, maintaining that it was not the PTI’s sole responsibility to work toward consensus.
Concerns over a potential 27th constitutional amendment have been mounting over indications by various parties allied with the government that the legislation was under consideration. Senator Faisal Vawda, considered close to the security establishment, last week claimed “multiple” constitutional amendments were in the offing, while leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan have claimed they received assurances that their demand of further empowering local governments would be tackled after the 26th constitutional amendment.
Speculation over the potential legislation found new grounds after a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday afternoon. Reportedly, the two leaders discussed the proposed constitutional package—though adviser to the P.M. Rana Sanaullah later clarified no consensus was reached on any new amendment. He maintained that there would be no movement on a potential 27th constitutional amendment until consensus.