KARACHI (MNN); Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has cautioned that any attempt to roll back provincial rights granted under the 18th Amendment would be equivalent to “playing with fire”.
Addressing supporters via a video message on the party’s 58th foundation day, which the PPP says was streamed live across over 100 districts, Bilawal highlighted past efforts to alter the provincial financial share under the NFC Award.
He recalled that the governing PML-N had floated proposals for constitutional revisions on these matters, which the PPP opposed and consequently were excluded from the 27th Amendment.
Bilawal said Pakistan already faces multiple internal faultlines, and the PPP has historically attempted to mend them by devolving powers to provinces, strengthening democracy, and ensuring fair representation.
He warned that any move to touch the NFC Award or the 18th Amendment would be dangerously destabilising.
Pointing to rising regional tensions and statements by the Indian defence minister regarding Sindh, along with friction along the Afghan border, Bilawal emphasised that Pakistan must not provide space for adversaries to exploit internal divisions.
He asserted that unity could help the country withstand “conspiracies”, including actions by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He lauded the PPP for safeguarding provincial financial rights and criticised attempts to restore executive magistracy and reclaim devolved subjects like education and population control.
Bilawal vowed to continue defending provincial autonomy, saying the PPP would back decisions that strengthen the federation but cannot support those undermining it.
Speaking about the 27th Amendment’s creation of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), Bilawal acknowledged criticism surrounding the institution.
He expressed hope that the FCC — which has replaced the Supreme Court as the country’s highest judicial body — would prove critics wrong through its conduct and help rebuild public trust in the judiciary.
He stressed that legislation is the prerogative of parliament and warned against attempts to involve courts in determining the legitimacy of constitutional amendments. He said only parliament can revisit or revise amendments passed through majority vote.
Bilawal argued that the FCC would address Pakistan’s most critical constitutional issues, while the Supreme Court would focus on criminal matters.
Taking a swipe at what he called judicial activism, he said the new court should avoid delving into matters like dam construction, food pricing, or the disqualification of prime ministers.
He added that the new judicial structure ensures equal provincial representation and would allow the public faster relief in criminal cases handled by the Supreme Court.
