LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday firmly opposed any further constitutional amendments, declaring that the 26th and 27th amendments passed earlier this year were sufficient and that “no room” remained for additional changes in the current parliamentary term.
Speaking to senior journalists in Lahore, Bilawal stressed that the Constitution was not a document to be altered repeatedly. His remarks come amid intensifying speculation over a proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment, fuelled in part by statements from Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah, who has publicly hinted that the government intends to table the amendment soon.
Bilawal’s resistance carries significant political weight. While the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) commands a simple majority in the National Assembly with 131 seats, it still depends on the PPP’s support to reach the two-thirds majority — 224 votes — required for any constitutional amendment. The ruling coalition also includes lawmakers from the MQM-P, PML-Q, IPP and several smaller parties, along with independent members, while the opposition holds 89 seats.
In the Senate, the government similarly needs a two-thirds majority — 64 votes — to pass any amendment. The ruling alliance currently controls 61 seats compared to the opposition’s 35.
The proposed 28th Amendment is said to focus on education, population management and local government reforms, according to Sanaullah’s earlier statements.
‘Make South Punjab a province first’
Addressing the long-standing debate over new provinces, Bilawal said that before any further proposals were considered, the resolution already passed by the Punjab Assembly for creating a South Punjab province should be implemented.
He noted that a Senate commission had also endorsed the creation of the new province, arguing that consensus already existed on the matter. “First reach a consensus to make South Punjab a province and then move forward,” he said, adding that he “could not even think” of dividing Punjab in any other manner.
He stressed that new provinces should only be created where political consensus had already been achieved, citing the example of local government legislation in Punjab, which he said would have faced significant resistance had it been introduced in Sindh.
The PPP chairman also took a swipe at political rivals, remarking: “They cannot digest my presence in Punjab. I tell them to come to Sindh.” He added that the federal government had yet to appoint a governor in Sindh.
Comments on PTI and Punjab politics
Discussing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Bilawal said he bore no personal animosity toward party founder Imran Khan but criticised his style of politics. He added that the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had “failed” to deliver.
Bilawal reiterated that the PPP had no intention of seeking ministries in Punjab and acknowledged that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was “doing a good job”.
