28th Constitutional Amendment to be introduced before January 15, says Fawad Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: The 28th Constitutional Amendment may be introduced before January 15, while a referendum on the creation of new provinces could also be announced in December, former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry said.

Speaking in ARY News programme The Reporters, Fawad Chaudhry said two groups of lawyers were preparing separate drafts of the 28th Constitutional Amendment.

He said former law minister Farogh Naseem and Attorney General Mansoor Awan were preparing a separate draft of the proposed amendment.

There is also a debate over whether a referendum should be held first, he added.

Fawad Chaudhry said the strength of a referendum could push parliament towards approving the constitutional amendment. According to information shared by his friends, the matter would not go beyond January 15, and the 28th Amendment would be introduced before that date.

He said a referendum would be held specifically on the creation of new provinces, as there was no other mechanism for the purpose.

The former minister said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had some concerns over the issue and the proposed names of provinces could be changed.

He added that if the 28th Amendment was to be introduced, it would come in December, alongside the possibility of an announcement regarding a referendum.

Fawad Chaudhry said there were certain political realities in Pakistan, adding that Maryam Nawaz had not come to power through her own political strength.

He said the government’s coalition partners had also not come into power through their own strength, adding that they could neither leave the coalition government at their own will nor exit it at someone else’s direction.

Commenting on the recent statements involving Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, he said Chaudhry Salik was a calm person, while Moonis Elahi was emotional.

He said it would take considerable effort even to make Chaudhry Salik angry, adding that Salik had made a general statement and had not named Maryam Nawaz or any minister.

Fawad Chaudhry said Maryam Nawaz was a strong woman who had also fought her father’s political battles. He added that she had taken a strong position against more than just Chaudhry Salik.

He said Maryam Nawaz had made it clear that a group of capitalists was conspiring.

Fawad Chaudhry said the political contest had now begun in Punjab, where one group was operating in support of the chief minister.

He claimed that Mohsin Naqvi had been targeted since he raised the issue of creating new provinces. He said both the PML-N and PPP were targeting Naqvi.

“Chaudhry Salik Hussain is just a pretext, while Mohsin Naqvi is the actual target,” he said.

Fawad Chaudhry said neither the Zardari family nor the Sharif family would accept the creation of new provinces.

He said the political reset in Pakistan was linked to the creation of new provinces and that the country’s politics would change completely if new provinces were established.

Fawad Chaudhry said his group was calling for a national government, which could also be formed through parliament.

He said no single political party would be willing to bear the burden of making major decisions for the country alone.

He added that a national government was needed to ensure the implementation of major decisions.