No cause for concern if 27th Amendment is required: MQM

ISLAMABAD: Leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP) on Wednesday said there was no cause for concern over the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, as it was aimed at ensuring effective governance and a strengthened local government system across the country.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House, MQMP Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said discussions on the proposed amendment had been ongoing for several days. “During the 26th Constitutional Amendment, we made one demand — that democracy must deliver its fruits to the people,” he recalled.

Dr Siddiqui said the MQMP had itself approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the 27th Amendment which, he added, was intended to promote good governance and improved provincial coordination.

He noted that the establishment of a separate constitutional court was also being considered, observing that although constitutional cases made up about 10 per cent of the overall caseload, they consumed nearly half of the courts’ time.

The MQMP chief said Pakistan was passing through one of the most critical phases in its history. Referring to the devolution under the 18th Amendment, he remarked that the transfer of education to the provinces had produced counterproductive outcomes and there was a need to revisit the framework. He also proposed that the Population Welfare Department remain under the federal government’s jurisdiction.

Dr Siddiqui further stated that amendments to Article 243 were under consideration to align it with national unity and modern defence requirements.

Reiterating his party’s long-standing position, he said MQMP wanted constitutional protection for local governments to ensure elected mayors and nazims could complete their tenure without interference. “Local governments should be recognised as a constitutional tier of governance, safeguarded by the Supreme Court,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, senior MQMP leader Dr Farooq Sattar said the Constitution was a sacred document but “not a divine scripture”, and that amendments in accordance with changing times were both natural and necessary.

He said that if the 27th Amendment followed the 26th, “there should be neither surprise nor concern.” Dr Sattar added that while the 18th Amendment granted provincial autonomy, the next logical step must be to ensure autonomy for local governments.

He called for clearer legislation to strengthen the local governance framework and proposed that the Constitution guarantee timely local government elections upon the expiry of terms.