PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party has urged the federal government to implement the 18th Constitutional Amendment in real sense to ensure devolution of powers to the federating units and strengthen democratic institutions in the country.

In a statement issued here on Monday, ANP central president Asfandyar Wali Khan expressed his pleasure over completion of 11 years since the amendment was made, and stressed the need for its full implementation to benefit the poor.

He warned that any move to rollback the amendment would be fully resisted, saying it was the only law which guaranteed provincial autonomy.

The ANP chief said April 19, 2010, was a historic day for the country’s politics as on this day the country’s constitution was completed with the 18th Amendment. He said democracy could be further strengthened only with upholding of the constitution and parliamentary sovereignty.

He said it was the 18th Amendment that gave identity to Pakhtuns and enabled the provinces to raise voice for their share in the national resources. He said it was high time to acknowledge the supremacy of the parliament.

Mr Asfandyar said the amendment had given the provinces financial autonomy for which they had been yearning since independence.

He asked for distribution of resources purely in accordance with the Constitution to ensure protection to the rights of all the federating units. “We will continue to raise voice for rights of the oppressed people,” he vowed.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2021