The constitutional runaway train - otherwise being referred to as the 27 Amendment - is hurtling towards the federal capital at full speed. Insiders claim it would arrive within days not weeks or months. Islamabad grapevine and informed sources maintain the proposed change, when passed, would chip away many features of the 18th Amendment.
Through a tweet on Monday, Chairman Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari confirmed that the proposed amendment was almost cooked and ready to serve. He also said that amendment of the Article 243 was part of the proposed agenda. Article 243 deals with the command of the armed forces of Pakistan and puts the federal government in ‘control and command’ of the armed forces. Clause (2) of the said article states that “without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces shall vest in the President.”
As per the Article, the President holds the power to “raise and maintain the Military, Naval and Air Forces of Pakistan.” Also, the President is empowered by the Constitution to appoint the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, the army chief, the naval chief and the air chief - on the advice of the prime minister.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s tweet not only laid bare the main features of the proposed amendment and but also revealed that the introduction and the passage of the amendment should be considered a done deal as far as the PMLN government was concerned.
“PMLN delegation headed by PM @CMShehbaz called on @AAliZardari & myself. Requested PPPs support in passing 27th amendment. Proposal includes; setting up Constitutional court, executive magistrates, transfer of judges, removal of protection of provincial share in NFC, amending article 243, return of education and population planning to the federation and breaking deadlock on appointment of ECP. PPP CEC will be held on 6th November upon @PresOfPakistan return from Doha to decide party policy,” reads the tweet.
For the sages of Pakistani politics and power paradigms, Bhutto Zardari’s tweet unlocks many intriguing points to ponder. Like a pressure cooker, the guessing game had been letting off effervescence in small doses for weeks but the escaping steam has now given away the essential spices and herbs that were added to the consommé that is now almost ready for service.
The 18th Amendment passed in 2010 was a natural consequence of the Charter of Democracy signed in London in May 2006 between Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. BBC had described the charter as the “most significant stance taken by country’s main parties against the military’s control of politics.”
However, Pakistan’s domestic, regional and international circumstances have placed the powers that be at the heart of everything once again. Aware of its “questionable” incumbency, the civilian leadership agreed to “work together” for the country’s interest. The real or imagined cornucopia being promised to the public, either through the excavation and export of rare earth minerals or mines worth trillions of dollars or the defence deals worth billions with the middle eastern emirates demand centralised administrative structure. A feeling has been infused through persistent propaganda through media and social media that Pakistan’s septuagenarian politicians and their feeble companions alone cannot deliver heaven on earth for Pakistan’s multiplying millions. Ironically, PMLN and the PPP desperately need support of the power circles to stay in power. Hardly any political pundit would challenge that the government’s boat, precariously swaying on rocky political waves, is being captained successfully. Similarly, there is unadmitted clarity about the writers of the proposed amendment.
League insiders guesstimate that the main subject that was discussed during the recent meetings between Sharif brothers was the proposed 27th Amendment. PMLN as well as the PPP realise that politically, they could be checkmated fairly easily. PMLN has nothing to lose if the President loses some of ceremonial functions. By delivering the “demand”, they would feel strengthened for now and for the future. Zardari being the wily fox of Pakistani politics may not succumb so easily. He has a few cards up his sleeve. Whether he would use them or not is only hours away. Nonetheless, hats off to those prognosticators who said November would be “interesting”.
