Bilawal warns against overturning 26th Amendment outside Parliament

PPP chairman asserts no one, including PPP, would accept any attempt by another institution to reverse the changes.

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Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asserted that only Parliament has the authority to reverse the 26th Constitutional Amendment, stating that no other institution would be recognized if it attempts to undo the amendment.

Addressing the media in Parliament house, he also clarified that PPP is not part of the federal cabinet, Express News reported on Friday. "I am neither a minister, nor am I holding any governmental position, so I do not have an official agenda during my upcoming visit to the United States," he stated.

In response to a journalist’s question about the possibility of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif completing his five-year term, Bilawal replied, "Insha Allah," but reiterated that PPP would not be part of the federal cabinet.

On the subject of foreign policy, Bilawal acknowledged the complex geopolitics of the region, highlighting the relationship between the US and China. "The PPP will never compromise on our nuclear assets or program," he affirmed.

He reiterated that Pakistan’s foreign policy remains steady, with a particular focus on the country's nuclear assets and missile technology, which he credited as the legacy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.

On the issue of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), Bilawal suggested that consulting with media representatives and digital media experts before passing such legislation would have been a better approach.

He advised the government to build consensus before making any decisions to ensure smoother implementation.

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Bilawal also addressed matters concerning the judiciary, stressing that when a new judge is appointed to the Supreme Court, other judges should ease their transition instead of creating difficulties.

"Whether it’s a bench of the Supreme Court or a constitutional bench, all must respect the Constitution and the law," he added.

Bilawal's remarks come amid growing discussion around the 26th Constitutional Amendment, particularly its rollback.

He made it clear that any rollback of the amendment should only be done by Parliament, warning that neither the PPP nor anyone else would accept any attempt by another institution to undo the changes.

The 26th Amendment has sparked significant debate, with a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court scheduled to hear petitions against it on January 27.

The amendment, passed in October of 2024, introduced key changes to the judicial appointment process, specifically in Article 175-A. These changes were significant, especially as the amendment altered the procedure for selecting the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

On January 16, a bench hearing cases related to the amendment and the powers of the regular bench fractured, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding the issue.

The 26th Amendment had previously led to the establishment of a parliamentary committee to select the Chief Justice, a break from Pakistan’s longstanding tradition of selecting the senior-most judge for the role.

Bilawal also reflected on the recent history of judicial appointments, including the controversial selection of Justice Yahya Afridi as the next Chief Justice in October 2024, which led to the modification of judicial procedures through the amendment.