Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asserted that only Parliament has the power to overturn the 26th constitutional amendment, stating that no other institution will be recognized if it tries to overturn the amendment .
Addressing the media in Parliament, he also clarified that PPP was not part of the Federal Cabinet, news reported on Friday. “I am neither a minister, nor do I hold any government position, so I have no official agenda during my next visit to the United States,” he said.
In response to a reporter’s question on the possibility of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif completing his five-year term, Bilawal replied: “Insha Allah”, but reiterated that the PPP would not be part of the Federal Cabinet.
On foreign policy, Bilawal acknowledged the complex geopolitics of the region, highlighting the relationship between the United States and China. “The PPP will never compromise on our nuclear assets or our program,” he said.
He reiterated that Pakistan’s foreign policy remains stable, with particular emphasis on the country’s nuclear assets and missile technology, which he attributed as the legacy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
On the issue of Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), Bilawal suggested that consulting media representatives and digital media experts before adopting such legislation would have been a better approach.
He advised the government to build consensus before taking decisions to ensure smoother implementation.
Bilawal also addressed issues regarding the judiciary, emphasizing that when a new judge is appointed to the Supreme Court, other judges should ease their transition instead of creating difficulties.
“Whether it is a Supreme Court bench or a constitutional bench, all must respect the Constitution and the law,” he added.
Bilawal’s remarks come amid the 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 any other institution to reverse 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 2024, introduced key changes to the judicial appointment process, particularly to Article 175-A. These changes were significant, especially since the amendment changed the procedure for selecting the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
On January 16, a bench hearing of cases related to the amendment and the regular bench’s powers fractured, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding the issue.
The 26th Amendment had previously led to the creation of a parliamentary committee to select the chief justice, a break from Pakistan’s tradition of selecting the most senior 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.
