Ashter Ausaf Ali, the former Attorney General of Pakistan, has put forward significant proposals aimed at reforming Pakistan’s constitutional and administrative structures to enhance efficiency and public service delivery. Speaking on Geo News program ‘Capital Talk,’ he specifically called for an amendment to Article 243 of the Constitution.
Key Recommendations:
- Military Leadership Reorganization: Ausaf proposed the establishment of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) position, under whom all institutions of the armed forces would be organized.
- Establishment of Federal Courts: To streamline the justice system, he suggested creating Federal Courts in every province to alleviate pressure on District Courts and implement reforms at the grassroots level.
- Health as a Fundamental Right: He stressed that health must be enshrined as a fundamental right in the Constitution and linked to an insurance-based system, aligning with global practices.
Ausaf remarked that while Pakistan’s Constitution is superior to that of many other countries, its effective implementation remains a challenge. He also emphasized the urgent need to activate the system of Provincial and District Ombudsmen (Mohtasib).
Reaction from Other Parties:
Barrister Umair Niazi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who was also on the panel, termed Ausaf’s suggestions as “practical.” He noted that the proposed Federal Courts would effectively create two parallel Supreme Courts—one for provincial and one for federal matters. However, Niazi criticized the ruling establishment, questioning the point of new reforms when the existing constitutional mandates are allegedly being violated.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nadeem Afzal Chan demanded that the 27th Constitutional Amendment must be debated in Parliament for at least one month, with the proceedings telecast live. He lamented that due to the neglect of the local government system in provinces, the governance is “bureaucratic, not democratic.” Chan concluded that the judicial system is failing to deliver and requires immediate reforms, arguing that decisions should be based on robust debate and consultation.
