PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Monday requested Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure the regular convening of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meetings as required by the Constitution.

In a letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn, Mr Gandapur toldMr Sharif that under Article 154(3) of the Constitution, a CCI meeting was required to be held at least once every 90 days but that requirement was not being met, with the last meetings held in January this year.

He insisted that long delays in the holding of CCI meetings had adverse implications for vital economic interests of provinces.

“Convening CCI meetings on time is essential for addressing critical issues faced by federating units. These meetings will enhance the collaborative efforts in bringing peace and harmony among the provinces which is also critical for socio-economic development of Pakistan,” he said in the letter.

Insists constitutional requirement on matter ignored affecting economic interests of provinces

Mr Gandapur requested the prime minister to take personal interest in ensuring the holding of regular CCI meetings as mandated by the Constitution.

“This [intervention] will go a long way in addressing the socio-economic and political challenges faced by Pakistan,” he insisted in the communication.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader in the KP Assembly Ahmad KarimKundi also advocated for CCI meetings.

He told Dawn that the CCI was the most important forum for discussing issues facing smaller provinces.

“Punjab and Sindh are larger provinces, while Balochistan also faces little issues compared with KP.

Mr Kundi said that the last general elections were held on Feb 8 this year, while assembly members-elect took oath on Feb 28, but no CCI meeting had been called for the almost nine months.

“Though this is a belated move, I still call it a good initiative because our province has multiple issues that are required to be discussed at the CCI forum for effective resolution,” he insisted.

The PPP lawmaker argued that it was a constitutional obligation to hold four CCI meetings a year, so those not doing so were violating the Constitution.

He said that apart from holding the meeting a year as mandated by the Constitution, the prime minister could order the holding of an urgent meeting anytime, while a chief minister could write to the prime minister for issuing orders for the convening of the meeting.

“Everyone knows that we have emphasised on multiple occasions that the Council of Common Interests is the only national forum where the issues facing our Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province could be discussed,” he said.

Also, adviser to the chief minister on information and public relations Barrister Mohammad Ali Saifalso pointed out that the CCI meeting should be called not only to meet theconstitutional obligation but crucial to discuss the issues of provinces as well.

“Not only that the KP faces financial issues that are required to be discussed at the CCI but this is also a constitutional requirement to hold such meetings regularly,” he said.

The aide to the chief minister also said that if the Constitution was followed in letter and spirit, things would run smoothly.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2024