PPP pours scorn on govt's 28th tweak plan

Bilawal warns major legislation impossible without party support

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government's reported plans for a 28th constitutional amendment appeared to run into early political resistance on Thursday after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said it had not been consulted on any proposed constitutional changes, signalling fresh strains within the ruling coalition over key legislative matters and the upcoming federal budget.

Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly after chairing a meeting of the PPP parliamentary party, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that although he and President Asif Ali Zardari remained in contact with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government had yet to formally engage the PPP on any new legislative plans.

He also underscored the party's central role in the coalition's parliamentary strength, warning that constitutional amendments and passage of the budget would not be possible without PPP support.

"The government has not contacted the PPP regarding any new constitutional amendment," Bilawal said, adding that the party had not been taken into confidence over the matter.

Bilawal underscored that the PPP remained indispensable to the coalition's parliamentary strength, asserting that major legislation could not pass without the party's support.

"PPP has not been consulted on the 28th amendment. The public is being crushed by inflation and the upcoming budget will bring further difficulties. Without the PPP's support, constitutional amendments and passage of the budget are impossible. The PPP will not support any amendment without my approval," Bilawal added.

His remarks come at a time when any constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds majority in Parliament, making the backing of coalition partners critical for the government's legislative agenda.

Against this backdrop, the PPP chairman's statement has added uncertainty to speculation surrounding the proposed 28th amendment and highlighted the importance of internal coalition consensus before moving ahead with sensitive constitutional changes.

Although details of the proposed 28th amendment have not yet been formally shared, discussions surrounding the reported proposal have largely been viewed through the lens of centre-province relations and fiscal distribution issues.

The PPP has historically opposed any move perceived to undermine provincial autonomy or reduce the share or constitutional protections available to smaller provinces under the post-18th amendment framework.

Referring to the 26th and 27th constitutional tweaks, Bilawal said the PPP had played a central role in previous constitutional reforms while ensuring that provincial rights were protected.

"We did not allow the rights of the provinces to be reduced, instead, we expanded them," he said, citing increased representation for Balochistan in the Senate.

The PPP chairman also warned that the country was facing worsening economic pressure amid rising inflation, saying the upcoming federal budget was likely to bring further difficulties for the public. He said the PPP had consistently pushed the government to adopt relief-oriented measures and raised concerns related to inflation at both the federal and provincial levels.

In a move reflecting the party's growing focus on budget negotiations, Bilawal announced the formation of a four-member PPP committee to hold talks with the government on the upcoming federal budget proposals.

The committee comprises former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sherry Rehman and Naveed Qamar, and is expected to present the party's recommendations aimed at easing economic pressure on the public.

Bilawal also reiterated the PPP's longstanding position on accountability reforms, stating that the party had historically supported the abolition of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

However, he said the PPP had backed recent amendments to the NAB law due to political and legislative compulsions, while warning that the party could revisit its position if commitments made by the government were not fulfilled.