PPP supports amending Article 243 & forming a constitutional court: Bilawal
Says judges’ transfers should involve both the outgoing & incoming chief justices as part of the judicial commission
Says NFC allocations can increase for provinces, but cannot be reduced
ISLAMABAD ( WEB NEWS )
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday said his party supported amending Article 243 and forming a constitutional court while ensuring democratic and civilian safeguards remained intact.
“After our Central Executive Committee meeting, we agreed on three points: amending Article 243, establishing a constitutional court, and managing judges’ transfers through proper consultation,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said during a media briefing in Islamabad.
He clarified that judges’ transfers should involve both the outgoing and incoming chief justices as part of the judicial commission. “We support transfers, provided the relevant high court chief justices are consulted. Authority should not be unilateral,” he added.
Bilawal Bhutto stressed that the PPP would not back proposals on dual citizenship or changes to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. “NFC allocations can increase for provinces but cannot be reduced,” he said, highlighting the constitutional protection of provincial financial rights.
On local governance, he pointed out that Sindh enjoys the highest financial autonomy under the local government system. He also called for advancing other aspects of the Charter of Democracy, stating, “We will see on which additional points consensus can be reached during the 27th amendment process.”
Regarding Article 243, he reassured that presidential powers or civilian supremacy would not be affected. “If democracy or civilian authority were harmed, we would oppose it ourselves,” Bilawal Bhutto said. He also invited JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to meet at Bilawal House, calling it his “second home.”