Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Wednesday termed the proposed 27th constitutional amendment “an attack by the federation on the provinces,” warning the government against endangering national unity.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Barrister Gohar said the entire country was alarmed by the proposed amendment, calling it “against the spirit of the Constitution and Parliament.”

He said constitutional amendments must reflect national consensus, noting that the 18th Amendment was a historic, unanimously passed reform.

He added that PTI strongly objects to four clauses of the earlier 26th Amendment and would present its formal response in Parliament.

“You are putting the federation at risk. Provinces are still waiting for the 11th NFC Award,” he said, urging the government to act responsibly.

The PTI chairman also demanded that Mahmood Khan Achakzai be notified as the Leader of the Opposition, saying the party had submitted a request with 74 members’ support.

“We will raise our protest inside Parliament. Democracy is already fragile, and the government must not push it further toward instability,” he said.

He criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for making 34 foreign visits in 20 months and accused the Punjab government of restricting wheat supply to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, causing a rise in flour prices.

Sohail Afridi vows to defend democracy

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said he had moved the Islamabad High Court for permission to meet PTI founder Imran Khan, but the order had not been implemented.

“Meeting our party founder is my democratic right. I will continue to raise my voice for it,” he told reporters at Parliament.

CM Afridi said the proposed 27th amendment was “a blow to provincial autonomy,” vowing to resist any move that weakens democracy or provincial rights.

“PTI is the guardian of the Constitution and democracy,” he said, adding that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share in the NFC Award stands at 19.4 per cent, or more than Rs7.5 billion.

He stressed that provincial autonomy under the 18th Amendment must be protected and that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had made unmatched sacrifices for Pakistan’s stability.

The federal government has already begun consultations with allied parties and stakeholders on the proposed 27th Amendment.

The Pakistan Peoples Party has convened a Central Executive Committee meeting on November 6 to decide its stance on the legislation.