OPP Rejects Key Proposals in 27th Amendment: Bilawal

Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the party’s central executive committee had rejected most of the proposals for the 27th constitutional amendment and stated that the PPP would not compromise on equal representation of all 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 magistrate and transfer of judges. The PPP CEC, he added, had reviewed each of the points.

Bilawal stated that the party had decided to reject any proposal seeking constitutional protection over provincial shares. “As far as the proposals involving constitutional protection of the provinces are concerned, 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 movement tantamount to reversing devolution. “The CEC meeting held today has decided that the PPP will not support such proposals,” he added.

Read more: The government will finalize the first 27th amendment draft for cabinet review tomorrow

However, Bilawal said the PPP was willing to support one element of the proposed amendment – an amendment to Article 243 on top military appointments. “It’s easier for me to tell you which proposal we’re willing to support — and that’s just one,” he said.

“The government has proposed an amendment to Article 243 to rename the post of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and introduce a new post of National Strategic Command. 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 create 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 ready to compromise on equal representation of all four provinces,” he said.

He noted that although the Charter of Democracy referred to the formation of a Constitutional Court, “there were also other matters included in the Charter.” He said the PPP’s CEC would meet again on Friday to continue discussions and reach a final decision regarding the proposed constitutional court.