KARACHI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has taken a firm stance on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, with its Central Executive Committee (CEC) endorsing only one clause while discarding the rest after extensive deliberations.
Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said a delegation from the PML-N had approached the party seeking support for the amendment.
The proposed changes included the creation of a constitutional court, revisions to the NFC Award, reforms in education and population planning, restoration of executive magistracy, judicial transfers, and matters related to the Election Commission.
Bilawal stated that the only proposal the CEC agreed to support was the amendment pertaining to Article 243. He said the party outrightly rejected any move affecting the provincial share, adding that the PPP would not support such a proposal under any circumstances. All other points of the 27th Amendment, including changes to the NFC formula, were fully rejected.
Regarding the establishment of a constitutional court, Bilawal noted that while the idea existed in the Charter of Democracy, other commitments from the charter must also be considered. He emphasized that any such court must ensure equal representation from all four provinces.
Bilawal further said the CEC would reconvene after Friday prayers to finalize its position on the matter of the constitutional court.
Meanwhile, federal cabinet meeting, convened today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to deliberate on the 27th Constitutional Amendment, has been postponed.
The session was expected to approve the draft of the 27th Amendment; however, cabinet members have been formally notified about the postponement.
The meeting was scheduled to take place at Committee Room No. 2 of the Parliament House, where key government matters and proposed constitutional amendments were to be discussed.
