ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Huzaifa Rehman has said the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment is expected to be introduced before the end of this year, claiming that significant progress has been made on its draft.
Speaking on ARY News programme The Reporters, Rehman described the amendment as inevitable and said it would be presented before the New Year. He acknowledged that some details were still being finalised and the timeline could be delayed by a week or 10 days, but maintained that the amendment would proceed.
He also commented on the debate over the creation of new provinces, responding to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s call to end discussions on the matter.
Rehman said the debate had not formally begun, questioning how it could be concluded without first gauging public opinion. He identified Parliament and a referendum as the appropriate forums for assessing public sentiment, adding that a referendum could be an alternative if Parliament was unwilling to take up the issue.
The prime minister’s aide further warned that the proposed amendment could be the final opportunity to pave the way for new provinces.
“If new provinces are not created through the 28th Constitutional Amendment, they will never be created,” he said.