Not even the powerful can undo the 18th Amendment: Bilawal

Pakistan People’s Party President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the 18th Constitutional Amendment guaranteed provincial autonomy and no one has dared to undo it. “The 18th Amendment was passed by consensus and no one has the courage to undo it,” Bilawal said while speaking during the NA session held on Wednesday to pass the 27th Amendment.

He said the 18th Amendment had ensured provincial autonomy and strengthened the federation, calling it one of the biggest democratic achievements of his party after coming to power in 2008. “The Pakistan Peoples Party passed the 18th Amendment, giving the provinces their due powers and strengthening the federation,” he added.

Bilawal emphasized that the amendment had cross-party support. “The 18th Amendment bears the signatures of not only the PPP and the PML-N, but all political parties,” he said, describing it as a historic act of unity in Pakistan’s democratic evolution.

He said: “We have the majority for the 27th Constitutional Amendment, but unfortunately there is no consensus on it.” He added: “The draft amendment we received from the government was discussed at the Central Executive Committee meeting of our party. We reviewed it for two days and decided that we will support this amendment to fulfill the unfinished promises of the Charter of Democracy.”

The President said the PPP believed that the true strength of any amendment or law came not from the size of the majority that passed it, but from the consensus. “The power of legislation lies in the agreement, not in the numbers,” he said.

He added that during the era of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, all political parties came together to give the country a constitution, one that, he said, “no dictator has ever been able to break.”

Bilawal said the PPP had always played a key role in constitutional development and thanked the government for accepting the proposal to establish a Federal Constitutional Court, calling it a “historic achievement”.

He said the new court would provide equal representation to all provinces, which would strengthen the federation. “The court that sentenced Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to death did not have equal provincial representation,” he said. “That verdict shook the very foundations of Pakistan’s federation and we are still living with its consequences. Today we are righting that historic wrong.”

He added that both the PPP and PML-N governments had suffered from the suo motu powers of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. “Suo motu notices were taken on everything from the price of tomatoes to sugar,” he said. “Under this power, elected prime ministers were humiliated and representatives insulted. Dams were even built on the personal initiative of the chief justice.” “This amendment puts an end to this chapter of judicial overreach,” he remarked.

PPP supports changes to Article 243 amid war conditions

The PPP chairman said that the field marshal and our armed forces are praised around the world. “Our armed forces have dealt the Modi government a tough defeat; six Indian planes were shot down and through that defeat, Pakistan has gained a new international standing and the nation feels empowered,” he said.

He added that the PPP had decided that the country was going through war conditions and, in that context, “after the defeat, India received the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, and what has happened since then on our borders and in our cities is before the entire nation.”

“Under these circumstances, the PPP has decided to support the proposed changes to Article 243 relating to the armed forces, and the party will support the constitutional protection of the position of field marshal,” he said.

Bilawal said empowering local governments is also part of his policy and the proposed amendment will be reviewed in this regard. “All provinces currently have local government systems,” he said. “In Sindh, the local government system has been given more powers compared to other provinces.”

He also mentioned that there is consensus on South Punjab and if progress can be made, he would be satisfied. “We will democratically resolve the deadlock in the Electoral Commission,” he added.

The PPP chairman appealed to the government and political parties saying: “The power is in the House and in the political parties. The benefits of the government will come from the recommendations and proposals of all political parties.”

Bilawal further said that it is not the job of the opposition to clamor for a leader. “The role of the opposition is to hold the government accountable and offer recommendations and proposals through committees,” he added.

He urged opposition parties to protest but not abandon the political process. “As long as politicians do not take control of their own destiny, neither this House nor this country will function properly,” he concluded.