Only parliament can roll back 26th Amendment, cautions Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Friday cautioned that only parliament had the mandate to roll back the 26th Amendment and if any other institution tried to do so, it would not be accepted.

“The Supreme Court, whether a regular bench or the constitutional bench, will have to accept and follow the Constitution,” he said in an informal talk with the newsmen at the Parliament House.

He said it was unfortunate that whenever there was a change in positions in the Supreme Court, the judges instead of supporting the chief justice did exactly the opposite.

Responding to a question about the PECA Ordinance, Bilawal said it was on record that they had opposed it during the PTI’s government.

“That opposition was not just for the sake of opposition, as we had given our suggestions and input in that legislation which was included,” he said. He said the final proposed draft of the bill showed that the PPP continuously remained engaged with the government and brought several amendments which had improved the law more than before.

He said there were other political parties as well and if they wanted to give any suggestions, they could do so. “This is the way to give your party’s point of view in the parliament,” he said.

Bilawal said the PPP thus did not have the majority to legislate according to its wishes but with the numbers it had in the parliament, it could play its positive role.

The PPP chairman said it would have been better had journalist organizations been consulted to develop consensus prior to the legislation and it would have been better to consult the media and digital media representatives when the legislation was at the committee level.

Asked whether Shehbaz Sharif would remain as prime minister for five years, Bilawal said, “Insha Allah,” and moved on to the next question.

To a question concerning his attending the US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Bilawal said the media should be asked this question.

The PPP chairman said he will attend the breakfast on President Trump’s invitation and for the PPP, this had continued for a long time.

“I don’t have an official position. So, I do not have any program to hold official meetings with the US authorities. I intend to meet Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s friends,” he said.

He said Pakistan’s foreign policy was intact and in place. “The nuclear and missile technology are gifts to the nation from Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The PPP will never trade on this issue,” he said.

Asked the new US administration had invited the Indian foreign minister to Trump’s inauguration but not of Pakistan, Bilawal said in the given geopolitical situation between the United States and China, after the Chinese president received the invitation, representation from India was also necessary. Asked if the PPP would join the government, he answered in the negative.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party’s Central Executive Committee Friday decided to continue to support the government for time being despite having serious reservations about not consulting a coalition partner in policy decision.

The party said it will not compromise on its principles and will oppose any anti-democratic legislation in parliament. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari chaired the CEC meeting at the Zardari House here.

Sources said President Asif Ali Zardari also joined the meeting.

According to a source, serious reservations were expressed about the attitude of the federal government and the ruling PMLN. The CEC members expressed serious reservations about the alliance with the PMLN and opined that though the PPP had not joined the government, its political capital was eroding being an ally of the government.

Sources said the PPP CEC members had a plethora of complaints and reservations about the coalition with the PMLN and no positive output of the committee’s efforts that engaged with the government to convey the party’s reservations to the government.

Sources said the CEC requested President Asif Ali Zardari to directly engage with the government and convey their complaints and reservations to the top government level.

It was also decided that the PPP will support the government only on legislation of public interest.

Sources said it was decided that a CEC meeting will be every month to review the outcome of the PPP’s reservations with the PMLN to take its future line of action.

Speaking to the media, PPP Parliamentarians Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bokhari said the Central Executive Committee had demanded that the federal and provincial governments fulfill their responsibilities with regard to the regarding the Kurram situation.

He said Kurram situation was very tense and steps should be taken to establish peace there.

He said the CEC demanded local government elections in Punjab and Islamabad as per the government promises.

Bokhari initially read out the resolutions approved in the CEC meeting and said the committee expressed concern over the construction of controversial canals and demanded immediate convening of a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CII), which had been postponed for 11 months, and demanded that the issue of controversial canals be immediately raised in the Council.

He said a CEC resolution expressed concern over the anti-labor measures in PWD, Karachi Dock Labor Board, Utility Stores, Passco, NFC and other institutions.

In another resolution, the CEC appreciated the efforts of KP governor for convening an All Parties Conference (APC), endorsed its proposals, and demanded that the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments implement all the recommendations of the APC.

In yet another resolution, the CEC expressed deep concern over the tense situation in Kurram and called for immediate restoration of peace, along with the urgent reopening of routes for the delivery of relief goods. The CEC demanded immediate local government elections in Punjab and Islamabad as per the agreement between the Pakistan People’s Party and government.

The committee voiced concern over the construction of controversial canals and demanded immediate convening of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting, which had been pending for 11 months, and called for raising the issue.

The CEC expressed concern over the anti-worker measures in the PWD, Karachi Dock Labor Board, Utility Stores, PASCO, GENCO, NFC, and others. The committee criticised the government’s agricultural policies, expressing concern over the lack of assistance for the farmers.

It demanded immediate release of funds by the federal government for the rehabilitation of flood-affected people in Balochistan.

The committee condemned Indian oppression and atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and demanded that Kashmiris be granted the right to self-determination in accordance with United Nations resolutions.