Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. SCREENGRAB
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has described the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment as an attempt to trample the Constitution.
According to the K-P CM, a government allegedly formed on the basis of a rigged election cannot be allowed to tamper with a unanimous national document.
“The current government sitting in power has only 17 [genuinely acquired] seats [in the National Assembly] in total — they neither have a public mandate nor the authority to amend the Constitution,” Afridi, who belongs to the PTI, said on Sunday. The CM was responding to a reporter during his visit to a station of Peshawar’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service.
The PML-N led federal government has tabled the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Senate, proposing a slew of changes to the Constitutions including one related to formation of the Federal Constitutional Court.
The country’s prime opposition parties’ alliance — the TTAP, which includes the PTI — has rejected the proposed amendments, warning that the proposed tweaks to the Constitution would shake the very foundations of the country.
Echoing the oppositions’ view, CM Afridi stated that the ruling coalition now wanted to “trample the Constitution” under its feet. The PTI and some other political parties claim that the February 2024 general elections were massively rigged in order to stop Imran’s party from forming a government.
In response to another question, he announced that on November 12 the K-P government will convene a grand jirga to chart a path for the eradication of terrorism and lasting peace.
“Lawmakers, former parliamentarians and MPAs, and leaders of political parties will be invited to participate so that a permanent solution for peace and stability can be achieved,” he said.
Afridi also announced the extension of the BRT service to Jamrud Tedi Bazaar and Bara Bazaar in Khyber District. He said the BRT service in Peshawar is a gift from his leader, PTI founder Imran Khan, to the people of the K-P.
“The BRT is providing a quality and affordable transport service to the poor and middle class,” he said. The CM revealed that to reduce passenger congestion in the BRT buses, his government has purchased 50 new buses and it is going to acquire another 50 soon.
In addition, the service will be expanded to more areas so that a larger number of people can benefit from it. During the visit, the CM interacted with citizens and inquired about their views regarding the service.
Accompanied by elected lawmakers and the chief secretary, he travelled by BRT from University of Peshawar Station to Karkhano Station, engaging in conversation with passengers along the way.
