Bilawal says government has not approached PPP on new amendment plan

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Thursday that the government had not contacted his party regarding any proposed new constitutional amendment, while warning that the passage of such legislation would not be possible without its support.

Rumors about a proposed 28th constitutional amendment have been circulating since last year and have become stronger lately. Adviser to the Prime Minister 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 rejected such a move.

Bilawal today chaired a meeting of the party’s parliamentary committee, attended by members of the National Assembly and the Senate, where he addressed the issue while speaking to reporters.

Responding to questions, Bilawal said he and President Asif Ali Zardari remained in touch with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but stressed that no consultation had been held with the PPP on any new constitutional amendment.

Read: Nationalists sound the alarm over attempted ‘federal control’

“Without the PPP, the approval of constitutional amendments and the federal budget would not be possible,” he said.

He announced that the PPP apex 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 all. “We did not allow the rights of the provinces to be reduced, but expanded them. Thanks to our amendments, the representation of Balochistan in the Senate increased,” he added.

Bilawal said the PPP supports the government on all constitutional amendments and national issues.

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 heading a peace committee at the request of the prime minister.

He added that during the tensions between Iran and the United States, the PPP had fully supported the federal government. “As Pakistanis, we stand together on these issues,” he said.

Praising the government’s mediation efforts, Bilawal said the prime minister and the field marshal were working for peace and to ease tensions between Iran and the United States. “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 leaders’ peace efforts.

He added that Pakistan’s foreign policy was moving in the right direction and was shaped in the national interest.

Read also: The PPP gives the government a period of one month to fulfill the coalition’s promises

On the economic situation, Bilawal said difficulties seemed 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 the prevailing economic difficulties.

Referring to amendments to 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-corruption 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 the commitments were not met.

He reiterated that economic conditions remained serious and were expected to worsen, adding that even if a deal between Iran and the United States materialized, difficulties would persist. He urged the government to prepare the budget keeping in mind the economic challenges.

No measures to undo 18th Amendment, says Malik

A day ago, Minister of State for Law Aqeel Malik rejected speculation about any move to roll back the 18th Constitutional Amendment, calling the impression “extremely false”.

Speaking on private television program capital talkThe minister noted that “the 28th, naturally, comes after the 27th,” but categorically stated that no constitutional amendment is currently being formally worked on.

“After the 26th and 27th amendments, certain issues are no longer hidden. Discussions on these issues had been started and a dialogue process was started, but it did not continue,” he said.

Responding to a question, the state minister said these issues were part of the discussions that continued since the 26th and 27th amendments.

“If we discuss a single national curriculum along with health, there is nothing secret in it. Discussions on the NFC Award also took place during the deliberations on the 27th Amendment,” Malik said, adding that Article 140A related to local governments had also come under discussion.

He dismissed the suggestion that a possible 28th Amendment would repeal the 18th Amendment, calling such claims “extremely false.”

“The impression created that the 28th Amendment, if introduced, would amount to a reversal of the 18th Amendment is totally misleading,” Malik said.

He added that the 18th Amendment had been passed in light of the circumstances prevailing at the time, but maintained that the changed conditions did not mean that it could not be reviewed.