Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said on Monday that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) proposed changes relating to local governments are expected to be taken up in the next constitutional amendment scheduled for the “coming months.”
Kamal made the remarks at a press conference in Karachi, days after Parliament passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment amid protests from opposition parties and various political groups.
When the 27th Amendment was introduced in the National Assembly on Nov 11, Kamal had cited Article 140-A — which deals with local governments — and reiterated that MQM-P’s proposed amendments “are not dead yet,” adding they would be included in the 28th Amendment.
Speaking to the media, Kamal explained that the changes were initially recommended for the 26th Amendment passed during an overnight parliamentary session in October last year.
He thanked political parties, including the ruling PML-N, as well as “friends in the PPP” and “many from the PTI,” for openly supporting MQM-P’s stance on strengthening local governments.
Kamal said the proposed changes were thoroughly debated for more than six hours in the parliamentary standing committee discussing the 27th Amendment. “We had enough numbers. We had the support of the PML-N and others,” he said, adding that the PPP’s reluctance to include the MQM-P’s bill in the 27th Amendment created a deadlock, though he stressed he was not making accusations.
The minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the PML-N leadership requested the MQM-P to defer its demands since the 27th Amendment contained critical provisions related to the Pakistan Army and the judiciary.
“They assured us that they supported the bill and asked for one more chance,” Kamal stated. “So, in the larger interest of the country, we accepted their request.”
Emphasising the need for empowered local governments, Kamal said the upcoming amendment would ensure that citizens “receive resources at their doorstep.”
He also highlighted the Punjab Assembly’s unanimous resolution last month calling for an amendment to Article 140-A to strengthen and protect local bodies and ensure timely local government elections. Calling it a significant political achievement, Kamal attributed the development to MQM-P’s persistent advocacy.
Kamal’s statement follows remarks a day earlier by Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, who suggested the government could consider another constitutional amendment if necessary to maintain national stability.
