Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated on Saturday that any process to amend the constitution would only advance with the agreement of coalition partners, emphasizing that there are currently no indications of a 28th Amendment being introduced. Speaking during a media briefing in Lahore, he highlighted the importance of consultation within the coalition government before proceeding with such significant changes.
Tarar explained that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as the leading party in the coalition, intends to first engage its parliamentary allies and will only move forward once it receives a clear signal of support. He underlined that all relevant stakeholders would be involved in dialogue on critical issues that require mutual agreement, referencing previous consensus-building efforts, such as those in 2009, as potential frameworks for future discussions.
He added that no concrete details have emerged yet, noting that the specifics of any amendment become apparent only after a draft is formulated. This clarification aligns with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s recent remarks denying any immediate negotiations on the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment. Bilawal stated during a PPP parliamentary party meeting on Thursday that no discussions have taken place so far, though he left open the possibility of talks in the future.
Earlier, State Minister for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik dismissed notions that the 28th Amendment would reverse the 18th Amendment, calling such impressions “extremely false” during a televised program. Meanwhile, Tarar reiterated that the amendment process would proceed only with consensus among coalition members and other stakeholders.
He acknowledged the federal government’s ongoing governance challenges and highlighted discussions on several national issues, including the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, the proposal for a Saraiki province, and efforts to strengthen local governments. Tarar noted the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) push for empowering local governments and mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tasked him with building consensus around the party’s proposals.
Finally, the law minister emphasized that coordination between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari would facilitate progress in consultations on key national matters, underscoring the collaborative approach required for such significant constitutional and governance reforms.
