[🇵🇰] Constitutional Package

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Bilawal affirms commitment to constitutional amendments ahead of Oct 25 deadline​

PPP chairman asserts party will not abandon the constitutional court matter, vowing to see it through to completion

News Desk
October 02, 2024

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/PPP

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reiterated his commitment to completing the constitutional amendments, stating that if they are finalised before October 25, the matter can be resolved peacefully.

In a session with reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday, Bilawal was asked about his stance on former prime minister Imran Khan's military trial. He replied, “We need to assess the evidence first; after all, we have the authority to grant a presidential pardon.” He maintained that the PPP stands against the death penalty.

When questioned about the proposed constitutional amendments and their deadline of October 25, he stated, “If the amendments are made before October 25, the matter can be settled peacefully. While they can be done later, it may lead to confrontational situations.”

He further asserted that the PPP would not abandon the matter concerning the constitutional court, vowing to see it through to completion. “We have already faced significant delays; our demands date back to 2006 and are part of our manifesto,” he added.

Bilawal also criticised the judiciary's timing regarding certain actions, questioning why the timing of the injunction on reserved seats was not being scrutinised. He pointed out that the judiciary's four-page clarification issued on September 14, the day of a parliamentary session, raised questions about the judicial timing.

He mentioned that the head of the constitutional court would serve a three-year term and expressed his opposition to the establishment of military courts, emphasising that the justification for the federal constitutional court lies in the Supreme Court's historical precedents.

On the Karachi unrest case, which has been ongoing since 2011, Bilawal noted that the judiciary had affected the local government system under the pretext of this case, questioning whether unrest existed only in Karachi, as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan also face similar issues.

He further criticised the political manoeuvring regarding the selection of the next Army Chief, suggesting that events on May 9 were bordering on insurrection. He warned that if constitutional amendments are not enacted, the resulting situation might spiral beyond anyone's control, noting that the 18th Amendment had previously blocked the path to martial law.

 

[Ghazi52]

Govt lacks two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments: Bilawal​

PPP chairman calls for non-political judiciary, critiques govt's approach to judicial reforms

News
October 03, 2024

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. PHOTO: PID

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has stated that the judiciary must remain completely apolitical, noting that the government lacks the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments and is attempting to bring Maulana Fazlur Rehman on board regarding this issue.

In an interview with a private television channel on Wednesday, Bilawal expressed that it would have been more beneficial if the government had consulted the PPP regarding judicial reforms before making announcements.

He criticised the government for not approaching the party first and highlighted that the law minister had announced reforms in the Supreme Court without prior discussions.

Bilawal pointed out that direct intervention had been made in the judicial reform process, reiterating that the PPP has long opposed military courts, as stated in their manifesto.

He remarked that while the founders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) may choose not to engage with politicians, the public will hold them accountable during elections.

He further noted that both the PPP and the government agreed on the necessity of judicial reforms, but he suggested that the amendments could have been presented in a better manner. “If the government has different proposals for judicial reforms, it should be discussed openly,” he added.

Continuing his critique, Bilawal stated that political stability can only be established by political forces. He accused the PTI founders of rejecting the Charter of Democracy, viewing it as a compromise, and claimed they lack interest in improving democracy and governance.

He asserted that Pakistan has become a democratic country, free from past issues, and highlighted that the PTI leadership had previously stated they would accept accountability and imprisonment if necessary.