The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has asked the government to clarify Defense Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks on the 18th Amendment. PPP leader Naveed Qamar said in the National Assembly that Asif’s comments on the Gul Plaza incident also referenced the 18th Amendment. He added that the parliamentary leader’s statement would be considered the government’s policy stance.
Qamar criticized repeated experiments on the country, saying past experiences have divided the nation. He urged the federal government to stop testing new approaches and ensure national unity. The PPP expressed concern that the 18th Amendment has weakened federal authority and shifted excessive powers to provincial governments.
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Earlier, Khawaja Asif had described the 18th Amendment as a “facade” that transferred most powers to provincial governments. He suggested that recent events in Karachi highlight the need for greater powers at local levels to manage governance effectively.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar later clarified that Asif’s remarks reflected his personal opinion. Tarar emphasized that all official decisions are made with parliamentary approval and should not be seen as government policy.
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The debate underscores ongoing tensions over provincial autonomy and federal authority in Pakistan. The PPP’s demand for clarification highlights growing political sensitivity around the 18th Amendment and its implementation across the country.