28th amendment will not undo 18th: Law minister

ISLAMABAD – State Minister for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik has dismissed speculation suggesting that a proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment could undo the 18th Amendment, calling such assertions “completely false”. Speaking during a televised programme, Malik said the impression that any new constitutional amendment would reverse the 18th Amendment was being wrongly projected. “It is absolutely incorrect to suggest that the 28th Amendment, if introduced, would amount to a rollback of the 18th Amendment,” he said. The statement comes amid ongoing political discussions and media reports regarding a potential constitutional amendment, reportedly under consideration ahead of Eid ul Adha, expected on May 27. The 18th Constitutional Amendment, passed in 2010 during the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led government, significantly expanded provincial autonomy by devolving powers in areas such as health, education, social welfare, and local governance. It has remained a subject of political debate, with occasional calls for revision from various quarters, while the PPP has consistently opposed any rollback. Barrister Malik clarified that no formal work is currently underway on any constitutional amendment. However, he noted that broader policy discussions have taken place in the past on matters of national importance. He said topics such as a uniform national curriculum, health reforms, the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, and Article 140A related to local government systems had all been part of earlier discussions. “Whenever matters of national interest are discussed, it should not be seen as something unusual,” he added, emphasizing that constructive dialogue on governance issues is normal in policymaking. Reacting to the debate, PPP leader Agha Rafiullah cautioned against any attempt to dilute the 18th Amendment, warning that such a move could create political instability. He said his party would strongly resist any changes perceived as undermining provincial