KARACHI; Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Friday that his party will support amendments to Article 243, which defines the powers of the armed forces, as part of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Speaking to reporters after the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, Bilawal said the PPP agreed in principle with the idea of establishing constitutional courts and would cooperate with the government on finalising their structure.
“The amendment to Article 243 must be accepted,” Bilawal said, adding that the party also discussed unfinished items from the Charter of Democracy. He noted that the PPP would engage with the government to reach consensus on pending reform points under the Charter.
On the matter of transferring judges, Bilawal said the government’s suggestion was to remove the president’s role and let the parliamentary committee decide. The PPP, however, believes the president should initiate the process, while the judicial commission could oversee it for transparency.
Bilawal also said his party had yet to take a position on dual nationality but would back three main points in the 27th Amendment — the change to Article 243, formation of constitutional courts, and judicial transfers with checks involving both incoming and outgoing chief justices.
He reiterated the PPP’s firm opposition to any attempt to reduce the provincial share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. “The Constitution allows the NFC share to grow, not decrease. The PPP will defend this principle at all costs,” he said.
Bilawal added that while the PML-N government did not discuss local bodies in detail, the PPP remained committed to strengthening local governance, claiming Sindh has the most empowered local body system in the country.
Party insiders said the PPP was divided over some parts of the proposed amendment but unified in supporting changes to Article 243 and constitutional courts, provided provinces are equally represented. However, the party rejected proposals regarding reducing provincial NFC shares or centralising education.
