Karachi: (Tassawar News) The political landscape in Pakistan is perpetually characterised by vigorous discourse surrounding constitutional evolution and the delicate equilibrium of power distribution. Against the backdrop of renewed deliberations concerning potential amendments, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), a key player in the democratic process, has issued a definitive and uncompromising declaration. Shazia Marri, the party’s Information Secretary, has unequivocally asserted that the seminal 18th Constitutional Amendment—a landmark piece of legislation—is sacrosanct and cannot, under any circumstances, be subjected to a rollback or dilution. This statement forcefully reaffirms the PPP’s long-standing dedication to the principles of comprehensive provincial autonomy and the establishment of a robust, federal infrastructure built upon a democratic devolution of authority.
Delivering a formal statement from the federal capital, Ms. Marri underscored the profound historical and legislative commitment of the PPP to empowering the provinces, viewing such decentralisation as the most efficacious method for strengthening the entire Pakistani federation. She detailed that the party’s core ideology necessitates a framework where provinces function as potent and self-governing entities, capable of addressing regional needs through localised governance. This perspective directly rejects any counter-proposal that attempts to claw back the competencies and rights already conferred upon the provincial governments.
“The Pakistan People’s Party wants to see strong provinces. We cannot support any proposal that seeks to take back powers granted to the provinces,” she asserted, lending significant weight to the party’s non-negotiable position on the matter.
The 18th Amendment, formally enacted in 2010 with consensus across the political spectrum, represented a monumental shift toward genuine federalism. Its primary objective was the systematic decentralisation of substantial legislative and administrative authority from the central government to the provinces. Crucially, it led to the abolition of the Concurrent Legislative List and the transfer of numerous federal departments and responsibilities, ranging from education and health to environmental management, directly to provincial jurisdiction. Ms. Marri meticulously clarified that this amendment remains an indispensable cornerstone of Pakistan’s contemporary democratic infrastructure . The PPP, having been instrumental in its passage, maintains an unwavering commitment to its preservation. She categorically reiterated the intrinsic link between the party’s identity and the defence of this constitutional reform.
This commitment to the integrity of the 18th Amendment extends beyond mere administrative devolution; it is fundamentally intertwined with the critical issue of fiscal parity, specifically the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. The NFC Award, directly linked to the devolution of powers, dictates the formula for the distribution of financial resources from the federal divisible pool to the provinces. The current arrangement, significantly solidified post-18th Amendment, ensures provinces receive a mandated share, providing them with the necessary budgetary autonomy to execute their newly acquired functions. Any attempt to modify the 18th Amendment is widely perceived as a covert manoeuvre to renegotiate or dilute the provincial share under the NFC Award, an action which Ms. Marri has warned would be met with staunch and unified political resistance.
“Our position on the 18th Amendment and the NFC share is consistent. We will not step back from it,” she declared, highlighting the indivisible nature of administrative and fiscal autonomy within the PPP’s policy framework.
The leadership of the PPP has indicated a willingness to engage constructively in dialogue concerning constitutional improvements, but only on the explicit precondition that such reforms genuinely enhance the overall system without compromising the established rights of the provinces. Marri stated that should a proposed constitutional amendment contain a clause that demonstrably and truly enhances systemic governance and efficiency, the party would be prepared to offer its support. However, this conditional willingness is balanced by an emphatic caution: any efforts engineered to weaken provincial rights or reverse the decentralisation process would unequivocally be opposed.
This firm declaration serves as a timely reminder of the deep constitutional crisis that could ensue should the federal balance be disturbed. The PPP leader cautioned that diluting the spirit of the 18th Amendment would not merely constitute a political setback; it would actively undermine the foundational principles of democracy and threaten the federal equilibrium that is essential for maintaining provincial cohesion and national unity. The political sacrifices made by the party throughout its history to defend constitutional supremacy and democracy are cited as justification for its resolute stance: the rollback of this key amendment, she contends, is politically, historically, and constitutionally untenable.
In concluding her remarks, Marri defined the parameters for any future engagement with political stakeholders regarding reform. She stressed that the PPP’s participation in any constitutional dialogue or legislative process hinges entirely upon a clear, unambiguous commitment from all parties involved to preserve and protect the existing framework of provincial rights. “If anyone wants the PPP’s support, they must understand that we cannot be part of any proposal that compromises the autonomy of the provinces,” she concluded, thereby positioning the PPP as the primary guardian of provincial jurisdiction amid ongoing political conjecture surrounding potential constitutional overhauls, such as the proposed 27th Amendment.
Conclusion
In summation, Shazia Marri’s robust pronouncement regarding the 18th Amendment transcends a routine political statement; it is a foundational reiteration of the Pakistan People’s Party’s core identity as a proponent of decentralised governance. By linking the fate of the 18th Amendment directly to the stability of the NFC Award and the broader federal structure, the PPP has drawn a clear red line in the sand. This stance unequivocally signals that any future constitutional reform efforts must proceed within the confines of preserving, rather than eroding, the substantial provincial powers granted in 2010. The PPP is prepared to defend constitutional supremacy, ensuring that the hard-won federal equilibrium, critical for the cohesion of the nation’s diverse provinces, remains inviolate.
