LAHORE: The PML-N says it has no intention to roll back the 18th amendment rather it will meet its spirit of devolution of power.

“There has been no proposal under discussion to roll back the 18th amendment. Rather this amendment is complete and we will meet its spirit (after coming to power after upcoming polls),” PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal told reporters after the party supremo Nawaz Sharif held interviews for Sargodha division party candidates for the polls here on Saturday.

Iqbal said strong devolution of power was the need of the hour.

On the other hand, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) apprehends that its former ally (PML-N) intends to roll back the 18th amendment to the Constitution after the general elections.

Show-cause notice to Daniyal Aziz

PPP Sindh chapter president Senator Nisar Khuhro had said: “I appeal to all my friends not to become part of this move to roll back the 18th amendment, which is tantamount to attacking the 1973 Constitution. I can only appeal and convince them; otherwise, the PPP will stand firm and won’t let this happen.”

SHOW-CAUSE TO DANIYAL: The PML-N on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to former party lawmaker from Narowal Daniyal Aziz for allegedly violating party rules.

It says Aziz’s remarks (about party secretary general Ahsan Iqbal) have not only breached the party discipline but also tarnished its reputation. Aziz is asked to file a reply within seven days.

Aziz had criticised Iqbal holding him responsible for inflation. Aziz asked why Iqbal could not control record-breaking inflation when he was the chairman of the Price Monitoring Committee. Due to his incompetence, the PML-N government had completely failed. It is learnt that Aziz is not happy over the distribution of tickets in his area and has a grudge against Iqbal in this regard.

PARLIAMENTARY BOARD: The first session of the parliamentary board of the PML-N was convened on Saturday here in Model Town.

The primary agenda of the session was the shortlisting of suitable candidates for the upcoming polls from the Sargodha division, focusing on both national and provincial assemblies.

Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif presided over the session. It concluded with an announcement regarding the next meeting of the parliamentary board scheduled for Dec 4.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2023