Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that it will not engage in any form of dialogue or negotiation until the draft related to Article 243 of the Constitution is presented openly. The statement was issued by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who emphasized that transparency and national consensus are crucial for any constitutional amendment or policy shift involving the country’s security institutions.
Speaking to the media, Barrister Gohar clarified that Article 243 pertains to matters concerning the command and operational control of the Armed Forces. He noted that this Article has historically been central to decisions relating to military leadership and national defense management. According to him, any modifications to this Article carry wide-ranging implications and therefore require careful consideration and consultation among all key stakeholders.
He recalled that similar constitutional adjustments had been proposed in the past, particularly concerning the role and structure of security institutions. However, PTI maintains that altering any clause of the Constitution should be based on complete political consensus, not simply on the strength of a numerical majority in Parliament. According to Barrister Gohar, the Constitution represents the collective identity and will of the people, making it imperative that amendments are approached responsibly and transparently.
He further added that the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award is an example where constitutional guarantees were established to ensure fairness among provinces. The NFC Award included provisions assuring that provincial shares would not be less than their previous allocations. This arrangement was intended to strengthen the federation rather than weaken it. Barrister Gohar suggested that just as the NFC Award is rooted in national unity, any changes to Article 243 should also reflect nationwide agreement rather than unilateral decision-making.
Meanwhile, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser echoed Barrister Gohar’s stance. He stated that any constitutional amendment, reform bill, or legislative proposal introduced by the current government would be categorically rejected by PTI. According to him, the existing Parliament lacks legitimacy and therefore does not possess the mandate to enact major legal or constitutional reforms. He argued that the political situation in the country remains uncertain, and as long as PTI considers the current government to be the product of electoral disputes, no collaboration or negotiation on lawmaking is possible.
Asad Qaiser emphasized that, in PTI’s view, any legislation passed under the current Parliament would not carry moral or political credibility. He stated that the government should first address the demands for electoral transparency and political fairness before attempting to undertake constitutional amendments. According to him, engaging in such legislative activity without resolving fundamental political disagreements could further deepen national instability.
