PM, Bilawal hash out 27th amendment

Coalition partners agree to engage Fazl, Shehbaz commends PPP efforts for stability

LAHORE:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who emerged as a key player in the political arena for taking on the responsibility of forging a consensus among allied parties for the passage of the 26th Amendment, met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday to hash out several issues, including the contentious 27th amendment, as confirmed by a participant of the meeting.

Bilawal, spending the weekend in Lahore, visited the prime minister at his residence, accompanied by Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, former prime minister and sitting Member of National Assembly (MNA) Raja Pervez Ashraf, MNA Syed Naveed Qamar and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.

On the PM's side, the meeting, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Rana Sanaullah.

The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, with the 27th amendment taking centre stage. The participants also decided to touch base with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who has made clear that he intends to mount a fierce opposition to the proposed amendment.

According to a handout issued by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the prime minister commended the PPP's efforts in stabilising the country's economy.

According to a source, a wide range of topics, including the 27th amendment, came under discussion during the meeting. However, the source did not disclose the content of the proposals.

When asked if military courts were part of the proposed amendments, the source categorically denied it.

Despite Rana Sanaullah's earlier suggestion that military courts would receive constitutional cover, the source insisted they were not included in the amendment. However, it said every party retained the right to present its own suggestions.

When asked if the PPP was considering joining the government by taking seats in the cabinet, the source categorically denied it.

It is pertinent to mention that a day earlier, Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah had confirmed the government's plan to introduce another constitutional amendment.

He had stated that the proposed amendment would grant constitutional cover to military courts which he deemed necessary in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and certain parts of Balochistan, where the law and order situation remains precarious.

He had, however, said that these courts would not apply to the entire country.

Additionally, he had said the amendment would aim to rectify certain discrepancies in the 26th Amendment.

Sanaullah had also mentioned that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) sought formal constitutional recognition for local bodies and their financial matters, similar to provisions for the provinces, which could also be incorporated into the amendment.

On Saturday, Maulana Fazlur Rehman had taken a strong stance against the upcoming 27th amendment. However, he had previously voiced similar objections to the 26th Amendment only to later fall in line and agree to its passage.

A source within the PPP wryly noted that there was no difference of opinion between the PPP and the PML-N regarding the 27th constitutional amendment as neither party was the primary architect of it.

It asserted that the forces driving the amendment would ensure that a consensus is achieved on it by any means necessary.

It also said military courts would be a key component of the 27th Amendment as the current establishment sought to make an example of those it perceived as having conspired against it.

Later that day after he had attended a polo event, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was asked about the meeting but he declined to answer any inquiries related to it.