ONE was glad to know that politicians who always tend to divide the people for furtherance of their ends have united to unanimously pass the 20th Amendment. The immediate advantage of this piece of legislation appears to be that election of 28 parliamentarians after the passage of this amendment has been legalised. The ruling party also got a fresh vote of confidence to complete its tenure.

Whether this newly-forged unity will continue or the opposition will find some new prejudices to criticise the government and try to bring people on the street is yet to be seen. As far as the people’s problems are concerned, no serious effort seemed to have been made by the government to solve them despite its claims.

Instead, according to media reports, 100 per cent rise in the price of about 350 medicines has been allowed, and revision in prices of other medicines is under consideration.

If the report is correct, the government needs to intervene in the matter and withdraw permission to increase prices. People have already suffered much due to 18th Amendment by virtue of which central education and health ministries have gone to provinces, and provinces were not ready to accept and manage these departments. The results have been that education and health became victim of negligence and poor management.

The deaths in PIC in Punjab are direct result of non-existence of regulatory authority. Making hasty changes to the constitution are not desirable. Also, making of more laws or amendments to the constitution are not important but implementation of the existing law is imperative. No piece of legislation can be perfect and to change them hurriedly is equally dangerous as some time it paves the way for another change.

No country in the world makes such quick changes to the statue. We made 20 amendments t0 the original constitution in 39 years, while the United States made 27 amendments to the original constitution in 225 years.

Therefore, our politicians who clamour for change should rise above personal and party interest and make changes which are necessary for the welfare of the people who voted them to power and not for the benefit of the ruling and opposition parties.

RAJA SHAFAATULLAH Islamabad