ISLAMABAD: The political spotlight is firmly on the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) as the party prepares to finalize its stand on the 27th Constitutional Amendment. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari confirmed that a delegation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) met him and President Asif Ali Zardari to seek the PPP’s crucial support for the proposed changes.
Bilawal revealed that the draft 27th Amendment includes several sensitive and potentially transformative reforms that could significantly redefine Pakistan’s federal-provincial power structure:
Judicial and administrative reforms: The proposals include provisions for the establishment of a constitutional court, the restoration of the system of executive magistrates, and the power to transfer judges.
Fiscal and Provincial Autonomy: The amendment includes provisions that will affect the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, potentially reducing the fiscal safeguards provided to the provinces.
Article 243 Changes: It also suggests changes to Article 243 of the Constitution.
Federal Control: The reforms aim to bring back federal control over the key areas of education and population planning and end the current deadlock over appointments to the Election Commission.
Chairman Bilawal announced that the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) will convene a meeting on November 6, immediately after President Asif Ali Zardari’s return from Doha, to consider the proposals and announce the party’s final decision.
Given the two-thirds majority required for any constitutional amendment, political analysts agree that the PPP’s decision will be absolutely decisive. Party support, or lack thereof, will determine the fate of the amendment, which promises to reshape the balance of power between Islamabad and the federal units.
