Ahsan Iqbal warns against any attempt to modify 18th Amendment
April 27, 2020 03:10 PM
PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal on Monday warned that the 18th Amendment was a consensus national document and any attempt to alter that would generate new conflicts.
In a statement, Ahsan, addressing the government, said the amendment was passed jointly by all the political parties in the Parliament.
“What is the purpose of creating new disputes at a time when the nation is facing multiple crises?” Ahsan questioned.
The country’s current problem is to tackle the coronavirus crisis, he said, adding that what logic was behind opening a new front on the 18th Amendment.
Ahsan said the government should not attempt spreading political divisions instead of assembling together the Centre and the provinces.
He said instead of altering the 18th Amendment, the local government system must be restored so as to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The statement came as media reports emerged on Sunday that the government was thinking about reversing or at least diluting the 18th Amendment with an excuse that the provinces did not follow the Centre’s guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In this connection, Asad Umar said that there were some shortcomings in the amendment.
Similarly, Fawad Chaudhry stressed the need for the move but said the support of all political parties was required for the purpose.