PPP rejects key proposals of 27th Amendment: Bilawal

Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the party’s Central Executive Committee had rejected most of the proposals in the 27th Constitutional Amendment, saying the PPP would not compromise on equal representation of the four provinces.

Addressing a press conference after the CEC meeting on Thursday, Bilawal confirmed that a PML-N delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had recently met the PPP to seek its support. He was flanked by senior leaders including former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, Sherry Rehman, Nayyar Bukhari and Shazia Marri.

He said the proposals under discussion related to the Constitutional Court, National Finance Commission (NFC) award, education, population planning, executive judiciary and transfer of judges. The PPP CEC, he added, examined each of the elements.

Bilawal said the party had decided to reject any proposal to constitutionally protect provincial actions. “As for the proposals regarding the constitutional protection of the provinces, the PPP rejects them and is not willing to support them under any circumstances,” he said. He further said the party would not support any measure amounting to rolling back devolution. “The CEC meeting held today decided that the PPP would not support such proposals,” he added.

Learn more: Government finalizes initial draft of 27th Amendment for cabinet consideration tomorrow

However, Bilawal said the PPP was prepared to support one element of the proposed amendment: a modification to Article 243 regarding high-level military appointments. “It’s easier for me to tell you which proposal we are willing to support – and it’s only one,” he said.

“The government has proposed an amendment to Article 243 to rename the post of Joint Chiefs of Staff and introduce a new national strategic command post. The PPP Central Executive Committee has authorized me to announce that the party only supports this amendment. All other points have either been completely rejected or discussions on them will continue tomorrow.”

Commenting on the proposal to establish a Constitutional Court, Bilawal reiterated the party’s long-standing position that such a body must ensure equal representation of all provinces. “Even in the context of the Charter of Democracy, our party’s position remains that we are not prepared to compromise on the equal representation of the four provinces,” he said.

He noted that although the Charter of Democracy referred to the formation of a Constitutional Court, “other issues were also included in the Charter.” He said the PPP CEC would meet again on Friday to continue discussions and reach a final decision on the draft Constitutional Court.