The Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Thursday rejected proposed changes to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award through the upcoming 27th Constitutional Amendment, but expressed willingness to support a measure to amend Article 243 of the Constitution.
Addressing a joint press conference alongside Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and other PPP leaders, Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said his party rejected the proposed changes to the NFC formula. However, he continued, the CEC meeting had approved proposed changes to Article 243 of the Constitution, pertaining to the command and authority of the armed forces. “The government has proposed giving the Joint Chiefs a new designation, creating a new position for Strategic Command and a position of Field Marshal. Only this amendment the CEC has allowed me to support,” he said.
According to Bhutto-Zardari, the CEC did not agree to any of the other proposed amendments, including the formation of a Constitutional Court, executive magistrates, and the return of the education and population ministries to the federal government. He said talks were ongoing and the CEC would issue a final decision on the proposed constitutional court after another meeting on Friday (today).
During the press conference, the PPP chairman recalled that a Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had met the PPP leadership to seek their support for the proposed 27th Amendment. He emphasized the PPP was unwilling to back a proposal regarding the NFC formula under any conditions.
Government efforts
Following the PPP’s decision, the center deferred a planned meeting of the federal cabinet, ostensibly convened to approve the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said the meeting was being deferred due to “other engagements” of the prime minister.
Earlier on Thursday, the premier held consultations with various ruling coalition partners in a bid to secure support for the 27th Constitutional Amendment. In this regard, he met a delegation of the PPP prior to their CEC meeting. He also met delegations of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid).
Addressing media after the meeting, the MQM leadership said it wanted the 27th Amendment to include support for strong, autonomous local governments across the country.
The passage of any constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament, meaning the ruling PMLN requires the PPP’s support to succeed. Despite the decision of the PPP CEC, however, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said he does not expect any major roadblocks against the 27th Amendment. He claimed most of the clauses contained in the proposed amendment had been under discussion for months, if not years, and expressed the government’s willingness to amend certain provisions at the behest of its allies.