13th Amendment to be amended again

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

The government is trying to introduce a news amendment in place of the 13th Amendment to the constitution, which is now the focus of the international community, reliable sources said.

Land powers that are listed under the provincial councils are to be removed in the new amendment. Hence, land powers would be kept under the central government. Land powers including rural development and matters related it is to be kept with the central government. The new amendment would not repeal the police powers currently vested with the provincial councils.

The other matter that is to be amendment under the new amendment is the clause that legislation needed to be unanimously approved by all provincial councils in order to be adopted. Under the proposed amendment, a piece of legislation would need only the approval of a majority of the provincial councils. Therefore, if five out of the nine existing provincial councils approve a piece of legislation, it could be adopted.

The government believes that this system would be the most practical since it is similar to what is practiced in India when getting the approval for a piece of legislation from states in India.

Sources said the government is looking at setting up the parliamentary select committee to formulate this amendment as soon as work on the impeachment motion is concluded. Political analysts say this amendment is being drafted with India’s knowledge.