KARACHI: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Monday expressed confidence that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) proposed changes related to local governments would be addressed in the next constitutional amendment, expected in the “coming months.”
Kamal made the remarks during a press conference, less than a week after the 27th Constitutional Amendment was enacted amid opposition protests. He said that the MQM-P’s changes, initially pitched for inclusion in the 26th Amendment, had been extensively discussed in the parliamentary standing committee for over six hours. While the party had majority support, Kamal noted that the PPP was not ready to back the bill in the 27th Amendment, resulting in a temporary deadlock.
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The minister thanked allies across parties, including the PML-N, PTI, and some members of the PPP, for supporting the MQM-P’s proposals. Kamal said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the PML-N requested postponement of the local government provisions to prioritise key clauses related to the Pakistan Army and judiciary, assuring that MQM-P’s bill would be included in the next amendment.
Emphasising the importance of empowering local bodies, Kamal said, “In Pakistan, in the coming months, this constitutional amendment will be introduced in the assembly and get approved, and the people will get resources at their doorstep.” He also referred to the Punjab Assembly’s recent unanimous resolution calling for amendments to Article 140-A to ensure timely elections and strengthened local governance, calling it a success for the MQM-P.
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