PTI threatens protest against bid to roll back 18th Amendment
August 08, 2013
Karachi
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has threatened to lodge a strong protest after Eid-ul-Fitr against the federal petroleum minister’s proposal to revisit the gas-sharing formula between provinces, in particular Article 158 of the constitution that governs the distribution of gas between the provinces.
Dr Arif Alvi, PTI leader and member of the National Assembly, condemned the minister’s proposal, which, he said, would amount to reintroducing the dark era of Ayub Khan if implemented.
The PTI would foil all attempts to roll back the 18th Amendment, he said while informally talking to journalists at an Iftar dinner hosted by MPA Samar Ali Khan on Tuesday.
Despite being the third largest party, neither the government nor the opposition had consulted the PTI on policymaking decisions, said Alvi.
He said it would be appropriate if the PTI was also taken on board.
“We were not consulted on the appointment of the NAB chairman nor did the opposition leader seek advice on the appointment of the new CEC.”
Alvi said that the PML-N was part of the 18th Amendment when it was drafted and accepted the strengthening of the provinces’ control over their natural resources, but now it had taken a U-turn, which proved that it was merely playing politics rather than sharing a conviction that powers needed to be devolved to the provinces.
The PML-N had revealed its Punjab-centric development policy where it sought to grab the natural resources of other provinces for the development of Punjab only, he said, adding that the statement made by the petroleum minister was a direct assault on the natural resources of other provinces.
Alvi stated that his party would support all those parties either in power or in opposition which were against wrongdoings and expressing discontent over any attempt to reverse the 18th Amendment.
It was the PTI’s firm stance that it would not compromise on Sindh’s rights, he said.
Abbasi’s comment has generated a heated debate among politicians, who think that it is illogical and unconstitutional as the majority voice cannot be crushed or changes cannot be undone without much support on the floor of the house.
The PTI at this initial phase would lodge a media campaign if its voice was not heard, said Alvi.
Commenting on the 1979 and 2001 local government laws, he said both were faulty and they would suggest some changes that would be acceptable to all political parties.
The PTI would fully participate in the local bodies elections, Alvi said and demanded that the elections should be held under the supervision of the army.
He reiterated his demand that the army should be deployed in and outside of the polling stations in the by-elections to avoid rigging.
For fair and free by-elections should be held on the pattern of the NA-250 by-elections, he said. The PTI supported the transfer of powers at grassroots level, he maintained.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has threatened to lodge a strong protest after Eid-ul-Fitr against the federal petroleum minister’s proposal to revisit the gas-sharing formula between provinces, in particular Article 158 of the constitution that governs the distribution of gas between the provinces.
Dr Arif Alvi, PTI leader and member of the National Assembly, condemned the minister’s proposal, which, he said, would amount to reintroducing the dark era of Ayub Khan if implemented.
The PTI would foil all attempts to roll back the 18th Amendment, he said while informally talking to journalists at an Iftar dinner hosted by MPA Samar Ali Khan on Tuesday.
Despite being the third largest party, neither the government nor the opposition had consulted the PTI on policymaking decisions, said Alvi.
He said it would be appropriate if the PTI was also taken on board.
“We were not consulted on the appointment of the NAB chairman nor did the opposition leader seek advice on the appointment of the new CEC.”
Alvi said that the PML-N was part of the 18th Amendment when it was drafted and accepted the strengthening of the provinces’ control over their natural resources, but now it had taken a U-turn, which proved that it was merely playing politics rather than sharing a conviction that powers needed to be devolved to the provinces.
The PML-N had revealed its Punjab-centric development policy where it sought to grab the natural resources of other provinces for the development of Punjab only, he said, adding that the statement made by the petroleum minister was a direct assault on the natural resources of other provinces.
Alvi stated that his party would support all those parties either in power or in opposition which were against wrongdoings and expressing discontent over any attempt to reverse the 18th Amendment.
It was the PTI’s firm stance that it would not compromise on Sindh’s rights, he said.
Abbasi’s comment has generated a heated debate among politicians, who think that it is illogical and unconstitutional as the majority voice cannot be crushed or changes cannot be undone without much support on the floor of the house.
The PTI at this initial phase would lodge a media campaign if its voice was not heard, said Alvi.
Commenting on the 1979 and 2001 local government laws, he said both were faulty and they would suggest some changes that would be acceptable to all political parties.
The PTI would fully participate in the local bodies elections, Alvi said and demanded that the elections should be held under the supervision of the army.
He reiterated his demand that the army should be deployed in and outside of the polling stations in the by-elections to avoid rigging.
For fair and free by-elections should be held on the pattern of the NA-250 by-elections, he said. The PTI supported the transfer of powers at grassroots level, he maintained.
