Bilawal supports amendment to Article 243, opposes end of dual citizenship
Pakistan
Bilawal Bhutto announces PPP’s support for amending Article 243 but rejects proposals to end dual citizenship and alter election and judicial structures.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the party will support the proposed amendment to Article 243 of the Constitution but will not back provisions aimed at ending dual citizenship or those concerning the Election Commissioner and Executive Magistrates.
Speaking to the media after the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting at Bilawal House in Karachi, Bilawal stated that the PPP had clearly decided to endorse the Article 243 amendment. He clarified that if the change had posed any threat to civilian supremacy or democracy, he would have opposed it himself, but since it carries no such implications, the party will back it.
He added that following the government’s post-war decisions, Pakistan had earned respect internationally, and the amendment now provides constitutional and legal cover to those decisions. For this reason, the PPP has chosen to support it openly.
Bilawal said the party had reached consensus on issues relating to the National Finance Commission (NFC) and other constitutional matters. He added that the PPP was willing to engage with other political parties to build consensus where necessary.
He reminded that the concept of constitutional courts was first introduced by the PPP and mentioned in the Charter of Democracy. He stated that while constitutional courts should indeed be established, other points of the Charter must also be implemented in spirit.
Bilawal explained that, under the current Constitution, the President of Pakistan transfers judges in consultation with the Chief Justice. However, under the proposed amendment, this responsibility would shift to a parliamentary committee.
He proposed that both chief justices – of the court transferring and receiving the judge – should be included as members of this committee to ensure transparency and accountability in judicial transfers.
The PPP chairman reaffirmed that the party had not reached consensus on proposals regarding the abolition of dual citizenship, changes related to the Election Commissioner, and the appointment of Executive Magistrates, making it clear that the PPP would not support those specific amendments.
