Abbasi slams elite's power-sharing game

Former prime minister and Awam Pakistan Party head Shahid Khaqan Abbasi denounces constitutional amendments.

ISLAMABAD:

Former prime minister and Awam Pakistan Party head Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has denounced the constitutional amendments, accusing the elite of using them to further entrench their control over the country.

He stressed that "this game of power-sharing among the elite will not continue," and called for a national dialogue as the only path to save the nation from disaster.

"If someone wins 50 seats, they should also get a proportional share of reserved seats," Abbasi remarked during a discussion organised by the APP in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The debate gathered over 30 experts from various walks of life, including former members of the armed forces, bureaucrats, and political figures.

Following the debate, Abbasi and former finance minister Miftah Ismail – also a party member – addressed the media, where the former premier condemned the recent legislative moves aimed at making changes in the country's judiciary.

"What principle is it to create laws that defy the Supreme Court's ruling?" he asked.

He went on to criticise the current state of governance, stating, "Every system in the country is failing, and to address this, complete reforms are required."

Abbasi stressed the urgent need for reforms after a national dialogue, saying that the political deadlock must be broken while working within the constitution.

He bemoaned the dominance of the elite in national policymaking, with constitutional amendments being the worst example. "These amendments will continue to affect the country until they are changed."

"Today, the elite are making amendments without even informing the public, and these changes are being made to solidify their control over the country. The draft amendments contain nothing for the people; their sole purpose is to strengthen the elite's grip on power."

Regarding the debate, the APP leader noted that participants had made several recommendations.

"Our agenda was to discuss the current state of Pakistan. The security and economic situation is dire," he said, adding that there is no solution to move the country forward outside of the constitution.