PP distances itself from reported 28th constitutional amendment amid coalition tensions

By Sardar Burhan :

Fresh political strains have emerged within Pakistan’s ruling coalition after Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the Pakistan Peoples Party had not been consulted on any proposed 28th constitutional amendment, warning that the government could not pass key legislation or the upcoming federal budget without the party’s support.

Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly on Thursday after presiding over a meeting of the PPP parliamentary party, Bilawal said the federal government had yet to formally engage his party on any new constitutional proposals despite ongoing contacts between President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and coalition leadership.

“The government has not contacted the PPP regarding any new constitutional amendment,” Bilawal said, making it clear that the party had not been taken into confidence over reports surrounding a possible 28th amendment.

His remarks signalled growing unease within the coalition at a politically sensitive time, with the government preparing both the federal budget and potential legislative initiatives that would require broad parliamentary backing.

Bilawal stressed that the PPP remained central to the coalition’s parliamentary strength and warned that constitutional amendments could not move forward without the party’s approval.

“Without the PPP’s support, constitutional amendments and passage of the budget are impossible,” he said, adding that the party would not endorse any constitutional changes without his consent.

The statement comes as speculation continues over possible constitutional reforms, although no official details of the reported amendment have yet been made public.

Under Pakistan’s parliamentary framework, constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament, making support from coalition allies crucial for the government’s legislative agenda.

Political observers say Bilawal’s comments have added uncertainty to discussions surrounding the proposed amendment and highlighted underlying tensions between coalition partners over governance, provincial rights and economic policy.

The debate is also unfolding against the backdrop of mounting economic pressures, rising inflation and difficult negotiations ahead of the federal budget.

Bilawal warned that ordinary Pakistanis were already struggling under increasing inflation and said the upcoming budget could create additional hardship for the public if relief-oriented measures were not prioritised.

“The public is being crushed by inflation and the upcoming budget will bring further difficulties,” he said.

The PPP chairman said his party had repeatedly urged the government to focus on economic relief measures and address concerns linked to inflation at both federal and provincial levels.

In a sign that budget negotiations within the coalition are likely to intensify, Bilawal announced the formation of a four-member PPP committee to hold talks with the government over budget proposals.

The committee includes former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sherry Rehman and Naveed Qamar.

According to party officials, the committee will present recommendations aimed at reducing economic pressure on the public and ensuring that coalition partners are consulted on major fiscal decisions.

Bilawal also used the occasion to reaffirm the PPP’s longstanding support for accountability reforms and criticism of the National Accountability Bureau.

He said the PPP had historically advocated abolishing the accountability watchdog, although the party had supported recent amendments to NAB laws because of political and legislative circumstances.

However, he warned that the party could reconsider its position if commitments made by the government were not honoured.

The PPP chairman additionally referred to the party’s role in earlier constitutional reforms, including the 26th and 27th amendments, saying the party had consistently defended provincial autonomy and constitutional protections for smaller provinces.

“We did not allow the rights of the provinces to be reduced, instead we expanded them,” Bilawal said, pointing to increased Senate representation for Balochistan as an example of the party’s approach.

Political analysts believe the PPP’s public stance reflects broader concerns within the coalition over centre-province relations and fiscal distribution issues, particularly in the context of any constitutional changes that could affect the balance of powers established after the 18th Amendment.

The PPP has historically opposed moves perceived as weakening provincial autonomy or reducing constitutional safeguards for smaller provinces.

Observers say the latest developments underline the delicate balance within Pakistan’s coalition politics, where parliamentary arithmetic gives smaller allies significant leverage over both constitutional legislation and economic policymaking.

With the federal budget approaching and speculation continuing over constitutional reforms, the coming weeks are expected to test the coalition’s ability to maintain internal consensus while managing mounting political and economic challenges.

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