Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, arrived at Punjab House today and met with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Nawaz Sharif to discuss the prevailing political situation in the country.

During the meeting, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif focused on the importance of implementing the Charter of Democracy (CoD). Chairman Bilawal proposed various amendments related to constitutional courts and judicial reforms, emphasising the need for political consensus on these vital changes.

“I hope that the proposed constitutional amendments are approved with the consensus of all political parties,” Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said during his discussion with Nawaz Sharif. In response, Nawaz Sharif assured, “We stand with every proposal of the PPP that aims for the betterment of the country.”

Both leaders agreed on pursuing common goals aimed at fostering development and prosperity in the country, and expressed their determination to guide Pakistan out of its current political and economic crises.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s commitment to creating an atmosphere of consensus to ensure the successful implementation of the Charter of Democracy. He further criticised the uncivil political behavior prevalent in Pakistan, blaming it for the ongoing political chaos.

“Constitutional amendments are not only necessary but mandatory to ensure swift justice for the common man,” Chairman Bilawal stated. He emphasised that Pakistan must establish the supremacy of Parliament through judicial reforms to move towards the next stages of development. “Countries only progress when there is a balance of power, and we must address past mistakes through judicial reforms,” he added.

Chairman Bilawal was accompanied by PPP leaders including Yusuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Khurshid Shah, Naveed Qamar, Raza Rabbani, Jameel Soomro, Sherry Rehman, and Murtaza Wahab.

On behalf of PML-N, Mian Nawaz Sharif was joined by Ahsan Iqbal, Irfan Siddiqui, Parvez Rasheed, Rana Sanaullah, Maryam Aurangzeb, and Murtaza Abbasi, among others.

Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, head of Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency met Vice President Peoples Party Senator Sherry Rehman. Syed Naveed Qamar also participated in the meeting.

Senator Rehman briefed the PLDAT chief on the policy of the PPP regarding the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court. Sherry Rehman said that the purpose of the meeting is to take all stakeholders into confidence regarding the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court. She said that on the direction of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, we are taking on board all political parties, lawyers’ organizations, civil society and related private institutions. Sherry Rehman said that we want a wider consensus to be established regarding the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court. She said that the PPP considers every stakeholder’s opinion important and we are trying to ensure transparency and consultation.

Today, Senator Sherry Rehman and Secretary General PPPP Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari also met the members of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Secretary General HRCP Haris Khaliq, Senior member HRCP Nasreen Azhar and Khushal Khattak were also present in this meeting. The PPP informed the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan about its policy regarding the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court. She said that we are consulting with all stakeholders regarding the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court. The purpose of this consultation is to get all the stakeholders on board, including the HRCP on behalf of Chairman Bilawal Bhuttoi Zardari. She said that we want the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court to be unanimous and based on consensus like the 18th Amendment.

President human rights cell of the PPP former senator Farhatullah Babar has said that a new generation of electoral reforms was needed to address the latest generation of nebulous electoral fraud and restore confidence of the people in elected representatives and governments.

He said this at the UNDP seminar on ‘next generation of electoral and legislative reforms in Pakistan in a local hotel in Islamabad Tuesday.

Identifying three elements as the latest in electoral fraud he said these were the role of turncoats and floor crossers, systematic manipulation of media including social media and disenfranchising over ten million women voters.

Although independents, small parties and turncoats have always polluted electoral landscape the art had now been perfected as they are used for making or breaking governments, political parties and for giving sham legitimacy to the back-seat manipulators of turncoats.

He said that in 2018 both PPP and PML-N witnessed their members switching sides to PTI.

These lotas then joined hands with PDM government to remove Imran Khan through VONC in 2022.

In 2024 through the same nebulous tactics the PTI was divided into Istehkam Pakistan Party in Punjab, PTI Parliamentarians inPakhtunkhwa and PTI Nazriati in some unknown location.

In the past the IJI was similarly formed and by using slush funds. In 1993 when Nawaz Sharif government was dismissed nearly 150 of the 220 PML-N deserted the Party. When he was restored a month later the deserters returned to its fold.

In 2002 Musharraf midwife PML-Q out of PML_N and also created Patriots out of the PPP..

First the Patriots supported PML- Q and later it merged into it.

The same happened in Balochsitan in 2018 elections when a non party independent MPA was elected as chairman senate. Today few regard the assembly and government of Balochistan as genuinely elected body, he said.

He said that politicians are also to blame as they not only embrace the turncoats but also give them important positions both in the parties and in governments. A new charter should clamp a total ban on turncoats by all political parties he said. The absence of a structured decision making mechanism in political parties is also responsible for this situation..

He said that lately social media and digital spaces are also used to manipulate elections as was done in Brexit referendum in UK & US Presidential elections 2016. In Pakistan the RTS failure in 2018 was also manipulation of digital space.

He said that everyone the political parties, extremist groups and even hyper partisan professional media organizations have manipulated media to discredit opposition, use false amplification, and foment hate and political polarization.

Recently at critical moments private audio/video leaks were employed to influence political thinking of people. He said that the state has done it more than private organizations and recalled that Face book cancelled in 2009 hundreds of pages linked to a government organization that were engaged in political propaganda and had millions of followers.

The elephant in the room is those who promote this culture. To throw the elephant out of the tent the political parties must agree to implement SC 2102 verdict in manipulation of elections by the intelligence agencies and also make legislation to determine the mandate of ISI.

President human rights cell of the PPP ex Senator Farhatullah Babar has said that a historic opportunity had presented itself to do away with a chaotic approach to the constitution by setting up and federal constitution court and streamline procedure for the appointment of judges to guard against a dangerous tendency of a judiciary of the judges, for the judges by the judges.

He was speaking at a dialogue with civil society at SZBIST in Islamabad today.

He said that the appointment of judges has been dangerously centralized as chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry alone appointed over a hundred and sacked another hundred judges of superior courts all by himself. It is not to question the competence and integrity of judges thus selected by one individual, he said. It is a far more serious issue namely stuffing the superior courts with likeminded judges and turning it into a monolithic unit like a military battalion, he said.

He said that the parliament through 18th Amendment sought to rationalize judges’ appointment but the judiciary under Chaudhry stood in the way and discreetly threatened to undo the constitutional Amendment if the parliament itself did not revisit this provision. Unfortunately the parliament and the political parties had cold feet and back tracked.

He said that it was an irony that the judiciary allowed the generals and itself to re-write and superimpose the constitution but denied the people to exercise this right through their elected representatives in the parliament.

A constitution Court is needed to address constitutional issues alone so as to reduce burden of cases of ordinary litigants and inject an element of provincial balance in addressing constitutional issues. If the political power has been rationalized among provinces by setting up senate why the judicial power should also be not balanced between provinces by providing for equal number of judges from all provinces in it he asked. 

He said that nearly four lac cases were pending in the courts of which over 60 thousand were in the SC because the constructional cases have to be accorded priority and they also take time. As the common litigants suffer incalculably the trust in the state and judiciary also erodes.

He said that since the days of Chaudhry Iftikhar it has been observed that the constitution was not what was written in it but what the judges said it was, as in the case of Article 63-A. The need for a separate Constitution Court has become even more urgent.

He said that after the 18th amendment the constitutional court is needed to address issues between the federation and the provinces.

Rejecting the claim that the constitution court was against the basic structure of the state he said that the basic structure of the state rested on the separation of powers, the independence of judiciary and the fundamental rights of the citizens and asked in what way the constitution court undermined the so called basic structure or independence of judiciary.

 The seminar was also addressed by ex Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Barrister Masood Kausar, CEO Bhutto Foundation Asif Khan, General Secretary ppp HR Cell Samana Malaika Raza and followed by interactive session with lawyers, academia, media, former civil servants, political activists and other members of civil society.

Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have extended their partnership for another two years under the Benazir Nashonuma Programme. In a ceremony held today at BISP Headquarters, witnessed by Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of BISP. Secretary BISP Mr. Amer Ali Ahmad and Ms. Coco Ushiyama, Country Director & Representative of WFP exchanged the agreement documents. This collaboration highlights the critical need to address malnutrition in Pakistan, where nearly 40% of children under five suffer from stunting due to poor nutrition.

Benazir Nashonuma Programme aims to reduce stunting among pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and their children under two years of age by providing additional cash support to BISP beneficiary families. PLW and boy child will receive PKR 2,500 per quarter, while girl child will receive PKR 3,000 per quarter.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairperson of BISP Ms. Rubina Khalid emphasized the significance of this new agreement, describing it as a key step in the country’s fight against malnutrition. She said “The Government of Pakistan is proud to strengthen this vital partnership with WFP. Our commitment to the Benazir Nashonuma Programme remains unwavering, and we are dedicated to expanding its reach and effectiveness to ensure that every child in Pakistan gets the opportunity of a healthy start in life, setting the foundation for a brighter and more prosperous future”.

The first phase of the agreement concluded in June 2024, and under the second phase, the program will expand to cover 157 districts with 562 facilitation centers. WFP will continue to implement the program following the approved design and protocols, with an increased focus on quality. The second phase will run for two years, concluding in June 2026.

Key participants at the signing ceremony included Ms. Rathi Palakrishnan, Deputy Country Director; Mr. Eric Kenefick, Head of Programme; Ms. Rie Ishii, Head of Supply Chain; Ms. Mamoona Ghaffar, Programme Policy Officer; Dr. Yasir Ihtesham, Head of Nutrition; Dr. Asma Badar, Programme Policy Officer, Nutrition; Dr. Ijaz Habib, Nutritionist, WFP KP office; and Mr. Ahmed Hassan, Procurement Officer.

The official signing of the new two-year agreement took place in Rome on 28 August 2024 between WFP’s Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation, Ms. Rania Dagash-Kamara, and Secretary BISP, Mr. Amer Ali Ahmed.

Pakistan and Malaysia have reiterated their commitment to further enhance bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, economy, banking sector, food technology and agriculture. The two sides also agreed to cooperate on issues of bilateral importance.

This was discussed during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and the visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chairman Pakistan People’s Party, MNA Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Minister of Commerce, Mr Jam Kamal Khan, Senator Sherry Rehman, and senior government officials also attended the meeting.

Welcoming the Malaysian Prime Minister, the President said that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Malaysia and was committed to further enhance bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. He added that the visit of the Malaysian Prime Minister would further boost bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly countries. He expressed concern over the current situation in Gaza and called on the international community to take measures to prevent Israel from committing genocide and atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia apprised the President that he held a very good discussion with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

Later, during a special investiture ceremony, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the award of Nishan-e-Pakistan upon Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in recognition of his support for Islamic causes and for being a great friend of Pakistan.

During the ceremony, it was highlighted that the Malaysian Prime Minister was an avid reader of Allama Iqbal and acknowledged that his work has been a source of inspiration for him. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been a prominent advocate of humanitarian causes and Islamic values throughout his political career. His leadership is marked by a profound commitment to promoting social justice and addressing global issues affecting the Islamic world. He has also been a voice for the causes of self-determination movements and has particularly stood against oppression across the world. He continues to work tirelessly to counter Islamophobia striving to create interfaith harmony by fostering understanding and respect between different cultures and religions.

The Ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Ministers, Services Chiefs, diplomats, and senior government officials.

The President also hosted a state dinner in honour of the visiting Malaysian Prime Minister and his delegation. 

President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to process the appointment of a deceased employee’s son in accordance with the law within a month.

As per details, Mr Faheem Ahmed (the complainant) had complained against the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) for his non-appointment against the “deceased employees” quota. He stated that his father was an employee of PCAA, and he died in the year 1999 during service due to cancer. As he was a minor at the time, he could not apply for appointment against the “deceased employees” quota. He said that when he applied for a job, his request was turned down without any justification. He approached PCAA for the redressal of his grievance but to no avail. Feeling aggrieved, he approached the Wafaqi Mohtasib for the resolution of his complaint. The Mohtasib decided that the complainant had failed to make out any case of maladministration against PCAA as the Family Assistance Package was not applicable at the time of his application. The complainant then filed a representation with the President against the orders of the Mohtasib. 

In his decision, the President observed that the complainant’s father expired in 1999 during service and at that time the petitioner was only six years of age. He noted that the petitioner applied for appointment, after coming of age, under the policy of 2005, according to which the son of a deceased employee was to be considered for appointment in the same department without undergoing the formality of advertisement. He rejected the claim of PCAA that it adopted the Family Assistance Package Policy in 2005 and that the provisions of the said package did not merit consideration due to the factual and legal position in the instant case. 

The President pointed out that the contention of the Civil Aviation Authority was not legally correct in the circumstances of the present case as the petitioner attained the age of maturity after the introduction of the policy as he was not eligible to be appointed prior to the introduction of the policy. He held that this was the case of prospective application of the policy and not retrospective application of the policy. The President also placed reliance on the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Civil Appeal number 410/2020 dated 02-06-2021.

The President, therefore, accepted the representation of the complainant and asked the Civil Aviation Authority to process his application for appointment in accordance with the law within one month.

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has firmly stated that his struggle is not for any particular individual but aimed at delivering immediate justice to the people and strengthening institutions.

According to a press release issued by the Bilawal House Media Cell, Chairman PP, while addressing the Balochistan High Court Bar here on Tuesday, lauded the lawyers’ community in Balochistan for their sacrifices and struggle in restoring democracy. He expressed his deep connection with the lawyers of Balochistan and termed the terrorist attacks on the legal fraternity, resulting in precious loss of life, a great tragedy. He recalled visiting Quetta for condolence after the attack and noted how his tears were met with ridicule at the time. 

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized that his family’s and his party’s journey did not begin with the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan’s puppet regime but has been an ongoing struggle across three generations. This struggle was not a quick revolution achieved in a day or a year but rather a persistent fight that began long ago.

The PPP Chairman highlighted that while the entire country now stands united in support of the 1973 Constitution, it was Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who struggled for over 30 years to restore it. Although she twice became the Prime Minister, she could not see the dream of restoring the Constitution come true. However, through the Charter of Democracy, PPP succeeded in restoring the 1973 Constitution via the 18th Amendment.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also shared his personal experiences of witnessing the hardships his family endured for the sake of democracy. He recounted how Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was imprisoned in the scorching heat of Sukkur jail, and PPP workers and those of other democratic parties faced atrocities during their struggle. He also described the hardships faced during the Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif governments of the 1990s, recalling vivid images of his mother holding his and his sister’s hands, waiting outside jail in extreme heat to meet his father.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed disbelief at the claims made by PTI, suggesting that they understood Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s struggle better than him. He accused the judiciary, military, and intelligence leadership of that time of conspiring behind the scenes, fearing the restoration of the Constitution would reduce their control over democracy.

He acknowledged the difficult times Pakistan is facing today, but reminded the audience that the situation was equally dire during the era of a dictator who could not be spoken against. He criticized contempt of court laws, which he said have been used to silence criticism of the judiciary while undermining freedom of expression. He condemned how courts allowed military rulers to make unconstitutional amendments but denied elected representatives the same powers.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari clarified that his struggle is not for the current Chief Justice or any individual. He said his agenda is not to serve any one person, emphasizing that Pakistan needs a constitutional court to address provincial issues equally. He voiced concerns over judicial reforms being undermined and questioned whether delays in reforms would lead to decisions similar to Article 63(A) and further restrictions on constitutional amendments.

He also spoke against the ongoing interference in parliamentary matters by institutions that should not wield such power. He argued for judicial accountability and reforms in the appointment process of judges, stressing that the judiciary should be free from the influence of any entity that wears a uniform or wields a weapon.

In response to questions, the PPP Chairman said his demand for a constitutional court is not new and reiterated that the creation of such a court would focus judges’ attention on constitutional matters, ensuring timely justice for the common man. He argued that it would also ensure accountability within the legal community.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari concluded by saying that Pakistan’s judiciary has never allowed parliamentarians or politicians to draft laws concerning the judiciary but has allowed military rulers to amend the Constitution at will. He stressed that PPP’s goal is not to serve any individual but to ensure a judiciary that functions independently and provides justice efficiently.

The PPP Chairman also emphasized that Pakistan needs both federal and provincial-level constitutional courts, calling for the end of the concept of “sacred cows” within the judicial and military systems. He warned that if the judicial system does not change, discussions about military courts would resurface, pointing out that such courts are proposed when the judiciary is deemed incapable of delivering justice to terrorists. The demand for a constitutional court, he added, is not an attempt to target any specific judge but a necessary reform for the country.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed that PPP is committed to seeing these reforms through and will continue its struggle to ensure that justice and democracy prevail in Pakistan.

In a bid to build grand national consensus for the upcoming 26th Constitutional Amendment being piloted by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP’s Human Rights Cell PPP HRC organized a dialogue with Civil society in Karachi to solicit their input for the proposed amendment, which included judicial reforms.

The consultative dialogue was held at Sindh Assembly’s Committee Room where Nisar Khuhro President PPP Sindh, Minister Saeed Ghani General Secretary PPP HRC Malaika Raza, MNA Nafisa Shah, Senator Zameer Ghumro and former Sindh HR minister Surendar Valasai  addressed various concerns raised during the session.

Nisar Khuhro said that the amendment being pursued by the PPP Chairman was overdue as it was the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to have a constitutional court to cater to the needs of interpretation of the Constitution and save the huge time Supreme Court spending on political and constitutional matters. “Judicial activism needs to be aligned with the expectations of the poor litigants instead of treading on warring political narratives,” he said.

Sindh Minister Saeed Ghani deliberated on the history of judiciary where in the Supreme Court allowed a dictator to amend the Constitution for three days and the CJP had the audacity to talk about the Constitution’s protection. Another CJP demolished people’s homes, while his predecessor reportedly gave decisions under the instructions of his mother in law to favour PTI.

Dr Nafisa Shah said that around 80 democratic countries in the world have separate Constitutional Courts to adjudicate constitutional matters and disputes. She appreciated Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for leading the national debate on the 26th Amendment.

Senator Zamir Ghumro gave a detailed presentation about the needs for the Constitutional Amendment and gave answers to the questions by civil society members present there.

He said that 26th Constitutional Amendment was part of the unfinished agenda of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) orchestrated by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto together with different political parties in 2006.

Malaika Raza acknowledged the vital role of civil society in shaping public policy and emphasised the PPP’s commitment to inclusivity and transparency. “We appreciate the insights and concerns shared by civil society members. Their perspective is crucial in ensuring that our legislative efforts align with the needs of the public,” she stated.

Raza reiterated the PPP’s stance on the amendment process, clarifying that the party is dedicated to addressing the legitimate concerns of all stakeholders. “Our aim is to establish constitutional courts to better serve the people of Pakistan. This initiative is about reforming our system, not targeting individuals,” she noted.

She also reaffirmed the party’s commitment to transparency, stating, “While the draft is still being finalized, we are open to dialogue and constructive feedback from civil society to enhance the quality of our proposals.”

The PPP remains focused on fostering collaboration with civil society to ensure that constitutional reforms are inclusive, effective, and in the best interest of the nation.

Anis Haroon, Tahir Hassan Khan, Yasmeen Shah, Sana Rahmoon, Ishaq Soomro and other civil society members attended the dialogue. PLF delegation comprised Qazir Bashir Ahmed, Sharfuddin Jamali, Tassaduq Nadeem and others was also present on the occasion.

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has emphasized that the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims remain one of his top priorities. He urged the federal and provincial governments to take immediate and concrete steps to address the issues faced by these citizens, who are severely affected by climate change.

According to a press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP inaugurated the distribution of relief checks to flood victims at the Chief Minister’s House in Quetta. During his address, he reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare and development of the people of Balochistan.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari highlighted his efforts in 2022 as Foreign Minister to secure international funding for the rehabilitation of flood victims. He stated, “Standing with the Prime Minister, I signed agreements as Foreign Minister before the world. We secured funding for a housing project, which was my initiative that we presented to the World Bank. The aim of this project is to rebuild homes for flood victims in a way that they can withstand the challenges of climate change.”

Chairman PPP called on both federal and provincial governments to take the issue of climate change and rehabilitation of flood victims seriously. He urged the Chief Minister of Balochistan and his cabinet to monitor the relief and rehabilitation efforts and discuss the matter with the federal government. He further stated that the slow pace of funding for the rehabilitation project is an injustice not only to the flood victims but also to the province.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed that before seeking help from the World Bank, the federal and provincial governments should step in to assist the flood victims. “If both governments contribute, we can help more people,” he said. He also warned that the federal government’s approach to flood funds could have negative consequences in the future, cautioning, “If the next Prime Minister or Foreign Minister asks for funds from international organizations during a natural disaster, they will look at our past record, which is not favorable.”

Chairman emphasized that homes for flood victims must be built strong enough to withstand future floods. “When the next flood hits, these victims should not be in the same vulnerable situation they are in now,” he said. He added, “If I ask the world for help again, the first question will be, ‘What happened to the funds given earlier?'”

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reiterated the need to build new homes for flood victims, noting that the construction of homes for victims is already underway in Sindh. He urged by stating, “Our country has limited resources, and we must use them wisely.”