Akhtar Mengal denies support to constitutional amendments

Islamabad: Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal has announced not to support the proposed constitutional amendments, saying he will not participate in any changes imposed by force.

After a meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Islamabad, the seasoned politician expressed his concerns regarding the current political climate, stating, "We cannot negotiate with anyone until our missing members of parliament return."

He stressed that the situation is far from conducive for any form of negotiation, particularly when threats loom over political discourse.

Mr Mengal slated the government’s approach to the amendments, remarking, "Constitutional changes are being introduced in a clandestine manner, raising questions about the true authorship of these amendments."

He pointed out that after 51 years since the enactment of the 1973 Constitution, it is perplexing that sudden amendments are deemed necessary. "What kind of emergency justifies such secretive alterations?" he queried.

During a press briefing in Islamabad following the meeting, Mengal lamented the ongoing state of emergency and the government's singular focus on amending the constitution while neglecting critical issues affecting citizens. "The constitution is not a secret document; it should be transparent and accessible to every citizen," he asserted.

Mengal further criticised the current administration for attempting to conceal the content of the amendments, suggesting that the ruling class is embarrassed to disclose them to the public.

"Political parties and their workers have the right to be informed about the constitution they are governed by," he added.

Highlighting the troubling methods reportedly employed by the government, Mengal condemned the harassment and abduction of party members, stating, "Is this a democratic process? Such practices have no place in any democratic nation."

He questioned whether the amendments stem from the government, its allies, or from factions historically opposed to the constitution, labeling their actions as threats to democratic norms.