The National Assembly on Wednesday resumed debate on the 27th Constitutional Amendment bill under the chairmanship of Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif are in the house to attend the debate and possible vote on the crucial legislation.
Addressing the House, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto said the government had consulted the PPP before deciding to bring the amendment.
“The government must have also sought advice from the defence institutions and the higher judiciary,” he added.
He drew parallels with previous constitutional changes, stating that just as the 18th Amendment, the 26th Amendment was passed by consensus.
“Legislation is strengthened not by a mere majority, but through consensus,” he said.
Bilawal Bhutto stressed that the consensus underlying the 1973 Constitution could not be broken even by a dictator.
Bilawal said that no one could revoke the 18th Amendment. “The 18th Amendment empowered the provinces, which guarantees the strength of the federation,” he said.
Referring to the Pakistan Army, he said, “Field Marshal (Asim Munir) and the armed forces have been praised worldwide. The Pakistan Army delivered a resounding defeat to Modi’s government.”
He added that the constitutional protection being granted to the post of Field Marshal would ensure national security and institutional continuity.
Bilawal Bhutto further warned that India had invited the Afghan foreign minister and was attempting to target Pakistan via Afghanistan.
“In such circumstances, national unity and defence cohesion are more important than ever,” he said.
The PPP chairman stated that granting constitutional protection to the Field Marshal post symbolises national consensus and institutional harmony.
Earlier, speaking on the floor of the House, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai alleged that the current government was formed through “Form-47,” claiming that some members who had lost by thousands of votes were later declared winners.
“Can such a Parliament be given the authority to amend the Constitution?” he asked, alleging that efforts were being made to block the people’s right to rule.
Responding to him, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said the prime minister and the government had repeatedly invited Achakzai to dialogue, adding that he, too, extended the invitation again. “Let’s sit and talk,” Sadiq said.
Achakzai replied that dialogue was not possible because the Speaker was “not a true representative.”
At this, Sadiq reminded him that he had defeated Achakzai’s leader twice in elections and that no petition had been filed against his victory.
“You are only making excuses to avoid dialogue — if we talk, only then can we move forward,” he said.
On this occasion, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan intervened, saying his party had made every possible effort to engage in dialogue.
“Our MNAs were picked up from the Parliament House,” he claimed.
“We have always stood with Pakistan and will continue to do so,” he said, alleging that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister was not being allowed to meet his party leader.
The Speaker reiterated that his role was to facilitate dialogue among all sides.
Taking the floor, PPP MNA Nafisa Shah said there was no better forum for dialogue than Parliament itself.
“Even in the most difficult times, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto never abandoned the parliamentary forum,” she said.
“Chairman Bilawal Bhutto also firmly believes in parliamentary dialogue,” she added, assuring that the Pakistan Peoples Party would never compromise on provincial autonomy.
MNA Sanaullah Masti Khel alleged that lawmakers were being coerced into supporting the 27th amendment, warning that history would not forgive those endorsing it.
MQM MNA Arshad Vohra criticised the proposed clause granting immunity to the president, saying Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani had termed such immunity “contrary to Islamic principles.”
He also complained that while an underpass in Islamabad could be completed in three months, similar projects in Karachi took years.
Calling for Karachi to be brought under federal control, Vohra said the city’s residents were suffering from poor infrastructure and health issues, with no solution in sight.
On Tuesday, the National Assembly witnessed strong protests by opposition members after Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar formally tabled the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the House.
