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Rabbani sees more amendments in the offing
KARACHI: Speaking at a reception given by Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro in honour of Chairman Constitutional Reforms Committee Raza Rabbani and members of the committee at the Sindh Assembly building on Saturday night, Senator Raza Rabbani said 18th amendment is not the final words as more amendments are necessary given the fact that many points in constitution, needed to be set straight, left untouched in 18th amendment.He said that the basic structure of the Constitution has not been altered through the 18th Amendment. He warned that dark clouds would hover over the Federation if the amendment was not implemented. “People especially of smaller provinces have attached great hopes with it.”
He believed that the amendment was a “culmination point” of the long struggle launched for the provincial autonomy. He said that the 1973 Constitution reflected federalism through provision of “collective dispute management” mechanism in the shape of Council of Common Interest but it was not implemented.
“It led to unitary form of government that triggered a sense of deprivation among smaller provinces and increased in polarization between the Federation and provinces. As a result, a ‘trust deficit’ was created, which to some extent has been reduced now, he said.
Rabbani said that ending concurrent list, giving 50 per cent ownership to the provinces over natural resources, allowing provinces to acquire foreign loans and ensuring its representation in the National Economic Council were some of the measures, which would strengthen the provincial autonomy.
Courtesy www.Geo.tv