Govt has not approached PPP on new amendment plan: Bilawal
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari talks to media representatives at the Parliament House on Thursday. Photo: X/PPP
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday said the government had not contacted his party regarding any proposed new constitutional amendment, while warning that the passage of any such legislation would not be possible without its support.
Rumours about a proposed 28th constitutional amendment have been doing the rounds since last year and have gotten stronger as of late. Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah had even said in November that the government would soon introduce the amendment before Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry had shot down any such move.
Bilawal chaired a meeting of the party’s parliamentary committee today, attended by members of the National Assembly and Senate, where he addressed the issue while speaking to journalists.
اسلام آباد: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی سربراہی میں پی پی پی پی کی مشترکہ پارلیمانی پارٹی کا اجلاس
اسلام آباد: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی پارلیمنٹرینز کے مشترکہ پارلیمانی پارٹی کے اجلاس میں رکن قومی اسمبلی بی بی آصفہ بھٹو زرداری کی شرکت
اسلام آباد: پاکستان… pic.twitter.com/PiuGGajtG7Responding to questions, Bilawal said he and President Asif Ali Zardari remained in contact with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but stressed that no consultation had taken place with the PPP on any new constitutional amendment.
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“Without the PPP, the passage of constitutional amendments and the federal budget would not be possible,” he said.
جہاں تک نئی آئینی ترمیم لانے کی بات ہے تو میں یہ واضح کردوں کہ وزیراعظم شہباز شریف سے وقتاً فوقتاً میری اور صدر مملکت آصف علی زرداری کی ملاقات ہوتی رہتی ہے ان موقعوں پر بھی رسمی و غیررسمی طور پر نئی آئینی ترمیم سے متعلق کبھی بھی پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی سے بات نہیں کی گئی ہے۔ 27 ویں… pic.twitter.com/LwbjCZYBtx
He announced that the PPP’s senior committee would present its budget proposals to the government, adding that a four-member team comprising Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Saleem Mandviwalla, Sherry Rehman and Naveed Qamar had been formed for the purpose.
Highlighting his party’s role in the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments, he said it was evident to everyone. “We did not allow the rights of the provinces to be reduced; instead, we expanded them. Through our amendments, Balochistan’s representation in the Senate increased,” he added.
Bilawal said the PPP stood with the government on all constitutional amendments and national matters.
Referring to last year’s tensions with India, he said he had raised Pakistan’s position on international media platforms during the conflict, while also leading a peace committee on the prime minister’s request.
He added that during Iran-US tensions, the PPP had fully supported the federal government. “As Pakistanis, we unite on such matters,” he said.
Hailing the government’s mediation efforts, Bilawal said the prime minister and the field marshal were working for peace and to ease Iran-US tensions. “We want the situation to return to normal, after which we will discuss the government’s performance and promises,” he said, praying for the success of the leadership’s peace efforts.
He added that Pakistan’s foreign policy was moving in the right direction and being shaped in the national interest.
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On the economic situation, Bilawal said difficulties appeared to be increasing rather than decreasing and warned that the upcoming budget would be challenging. He said the government would have to take relief-oriented decisions in view of prevailing economic hardships.
Referring to amendments in the National Accountability Bureau law, he said the PPP had clearly conveyed its position to the government, recalling that the party had historically sought the abolition of the anti-graft body.
He said that due to the government’s constraints, the PPP had supported the recent amendments, but warned that the party could reconsider its decisions if commitments were not fulfilled.
He reiterated that economic conditions remained serious and were expected to worsen, adding that even if an Iran-US agreement materialised, difficulties would persist. He urged the government to prepare the budget while keeping economic challenges in mind.
No move to undo 18th Amendment, says Malik
A day ago, State Minister for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik rejected speculation regarding any move to roll back the 18th Constitutional Amendment, terming the impression “extremely false”.
Speaking on private television programme Capital Talk, the minister remarked that “the 28th naturally comes after the 27th”, but categorically stated that no formal work was currently being carried out on any constitutional amendment.
“After the 26th and 27th amendments, certain matters are no longer hidden. Conversations had begun on these issues and a process of dialogue was initiated, but it did not continue,” he said.
Responding to a question, the state minister said these issues were part of discussions that had continued from the 26th and 27th amendments.
“If we discuss a single national curriculum alongside health, there is nothing secret about it. Discussions regarding the NFC Award also took place during deliberations on the 27th Amendment,” Malik said, adding that Article 140A relating to local governments had also come under discussion.
He dismissed the suggestion that a possible 28th amendment would reverse the 18th Amendment, terming such claims “extremely false”.
“The impression being created that the 28th Amendment, if introduced, would amount to a rollback of the 18th Amendment is entirely misleading,” Malik said.
He added that the 18th Amendment had been passed in light of the circumstances prevailing at the time, but maintained that changing conditions did not mean it could not be revisited.