Parliament holds sole authority to repeal 26th Amendment
Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday asserted that Pakistan’s foreign policy is intact and in place.
Speaking informally with journalists at the Parliament House, Bilawal dismissed the question when asked about attending former US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, stating, “This was a topic circulated by the media; one should direct this query to them.”
He clarified, “I am attending the breakfast event as a tradition of the PPP. I hold no official position, so I do not plan formal meetings with US authorities. However, I intend to connect with Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s friends.”
Bilawal dismissed speculation about becoming part of the federal cabinet. “We are not becoming part of the cabinet.” Responding to a question regarding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif completing his five-year tenure, he replied with a hopeful “Insha’Allah.”
Commenting on the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, Bilawal highlighted the PPP’s consistent opposition to the ordinance during the PTI government. “Our opposition was constructive, as we provided input that was incorporated into the legislation. The final draft reflects our efforts to improve the law,” he said.
He underscored the importance of engaging with other political parties and consulting journalists’ organizations during the legislative process. “It would have been better to involve representatives from media and digital platforms when the legislation was at the committee level,” he said.
Bilawal reaffirmed the parliament’s exclusive authority over constitutional amendments, such as the 26th Amendment. “Only the parliament has the power to roll back such amendments,” he asserted. Bilawal emphasised on Friday that the 26th Constitutional Amendment can only be repealed by parliament, saying that if any institution attempts to annul it, such a move will not be accepted by anyone.
