Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought his party’s support for the long-rumored 27th Amendment, adding the PPP will decide its party policy on the matter in a meeting on Nov. 6 (Thursday).
“PMLN delegation led by [P.M. Shehbaz Sharif] called on [President Asif Ali Zardari] and myself,” he wrote in a posting on X. He said the delegation had sought the PPP’s support in passing the 27th Amendment, which has been rumored to be in the offing for nearly a year.
Among the proposed legislative changes, explained Bhutto-Zardari, are the establishment of a constitutional court, previously attempted with the 26th Amendment before being reduced to a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. Additionally, wrote Bhutto-Zardari, the proposed legislation seeks changes to executive magistrates and transfer of judges.
The proposed 27th Amendment is also seeking the removal of the protection of provincial share in the National Finance Commission Award, and amendments to Article 243 (the federal government shall have control and command of the armed forces). The legislation also wishes to reverse the devolution of the education and population planning ministries to the provinces. The ministries were earlier with the federal government but were to be devolved to provinces under the 18th Amendment.
Finally, per the PPP chairman, the proposed changes include provisions aimed at ending deadlock on appointment of the Election Commission of Pakistan, currently requiring deliberations between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
“[The PPP Central Executive Committee] will be held on Nov. 6 upon [President Zardari’s] return from Doha to decide party policy,” he added.