Bilawal dismisses 27th Constitutional Amendment rumours as 'baseless'
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari speaks to the media after inaugurating the renovation of Niaz Stadium. Photo: X
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari dismissed on Tuesday speculation on any potential legislation on a 27th Constitutional Amendment as "baseless".
Even as the 26th Constitutional Amendment remains marred in controversy, power corridors in Islamabad have been abuzz with rumours of a possible 27th Constitutional Amendment. Speculation suggests that the potential amendment would bring further changes to the structure and functioning of superior judiciary.
The 26th Amendment had brought in sweeping changes to the judicial framework.
Speaking to reporters at the launch of renovation works for Hyderabad's Niaz Stadium, Bilawal rubished the "baseless rumours". “So far, no federal minister, prime minister or party member has approached me regarding any amendments.”
He underscored that the 26th Amendment was passed after reaching a consensus and with compromise from political parties. "PPP wanted constitutional courts, but we compromised,” said Bilawal.
Read: Rumours swirl around ‘27th amendment’ amid flurry of high-level meetings
Meanwhile on X (formerly Twitter), PPP's media wing quoted Bilawal as saying, “the 26th Constitutional Amendment is an eternal success. Judicial reforms and constitutional courts were a demand of the Charter of Democracy, but we prioritised a constitutional bench over a constitutional court for the sake of consensus”.
“26ویں آئینی ترمیم محض ایک دور کی کامیابی نہیں بلکہ یہ ہمیشہ کی کامیابی ہے، عدالتی ریفامز اور آئینی عدالتیں چارٹر آف ڈیموکریسی کا مطالبہ تھا مگر ہم نے اتفاق رائے کیلئے آئینی عدالت کے بجائے آئینی بینچ کو ترجیح دی۔
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری@BBhuttoZardari… pic.twitter.com/UoBs7Ek7y8Commenting on India’s stance on the Indus Waters Treaty, Bilawal asserted that Pakistan must receive its share of three rivers under the agreement, warning that if the treaty is not honoured, Pakistan would seek water from all six rivers under international law.
He recalled visiting Hyderabad a year ago to inaugurate a water filtration plant and expressed satisfaction over the pace of ongoing projects by the provincial government. “In the past, some politicians sowed seeds of hatred here, but now Hyderabad will keep moving forward.”
Stressing the need to shift from traditional flood irrigation methods towards advanced water technology, he added, “so far, we have only focused on flood irrigation. The federal government must move towards modernisation in the water sector"