Bilawal Says PPP Not Contacted Over Any New Constitutional Amendment
ISLAMABAD, May 14: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday said that neither he nor President Asif Ali Zardari had been contacted by the government regarding any proposed constitutional amendment amid reports about a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment.
ISLAMABAD, May 14: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday said that neither he nor President Asif Ali Zardari had been contacted by the government regarding any proposed constitutional amendment amid reports about a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment.
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Addressing a press conference after chairing a PPP parliamentary party meeting at Parliament House in Islamabad, Bilawal said that although President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remained in contact, the government had not approached the PPP concerning any constitutional amendment.
He asserted that without the PPP’s support, neither constitutional amendments nor the federal budget could be passed in parliament.
“The PPP’s role in the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments is evident to everyone. We protected provincial rights and further strengthened them. Through our amendments, Balochistan’s representation in the Senate was increased,” Bilawal stated.
The PPP chairman said inflation continued to burden the public and that the party was consistently raising people’s economic concerns at both federal and provincial levels. He added that the PPP welcomed the government’s relief initiatives aimed at reducing inflationary pressure on citizens.
Bilawal said all provinces had agreed through consultation to support measures designed to provide relief, including assistance for motorcycle users. He also highlighted the PPP government’s support for farmers through the Benazir Kisan Card initiative, which he said had benefited millions of farmers across the country.
Clarifying the party’s political position, Bilawal said the PPP stood alongside the government on matters of national importance and constitutional affairs.
Referring to tensions with India, he said he had represented Pakistan’s stance on international media platforms during the conflict and fulfilled his role as a patriot in defending the country’s position globally.
He further said the PPP had fully supported the federal government during Iran-US tensions, emphasizing that Pakistanis remained united on national and international issues affecting the country.
Bilawal warned that economic challenges were likely to intensify and described the upcoming federal budget as potentially difficult. He urged the government to adopt relief-oriented policies while preparing the budget in view of rising public hardships.
On amendments related to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Bilawal reiterated that the PPP had historically advocated the abolition of NAB. He said the party had supported recent amendments due to the government’s political compulsions, but cautioned that the PPP could reconsider its position if commitments made to the party were not fulfilled.
The PPP chairman also expressed concern over the broader economic outlook, saying difficulties were expected to persist even if tensions between Iran and the United States eased.
To formulate recommendations for the upcoming budget, Bilawal announced the formation of a four-member senior committee comprising Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Saleem Mandviwalla, Sherry Rehman, and Naveed Qamar.
Bilawal also said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Syed Asim Munir were making efforts to promote peace and reduce Iran-US tensions.
He added that Pakistan’s foreign policy was moving in the right direction and was being shaped in accordance with national interests.
