ISLAMABAD: Amid reports that the government is planning to introduce a fresh constitutional amendment, PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Thursday that the PML-N-led federal government has not appro­ached his party regarding any such legislation.

Addressing a press conference following a PPP parliamentary committee meeting at Parliament House, the PPP chairman said he and his father President Asif Ali Zardari remained in contact with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but no discussions regarding the 28th amendment had taken place.

According to Mr Bhutto-Zardari, it is not possible for the federal government to pass legislation, including the budget, without the PPP’s support.

“The PPP’s role in the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments is in front of everyone. We did not allow the rights of the provinces to be curtailed; instead, we expanded them. Through our amendments, Balochistan’s representation in the Senate increased,” he said amid rumours of a rollback of the 18th Amendment passed in 2010 to empower provinces.

While there is no official word from the government, reports claimed that the controversial amendment did come under discussion at a recent meeting between PM Shehbaz and President Zardari.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said his party had supported the government on matters of national importance, including constitutional amendments. However, if the government failed to honour its promises with the PPP, then the political party could reconsider its support, he added.

The PPP also demanded relief for the inflation-hit masses in the upcoming budget, saying that the government will have to introduce measures keeping economic hardships in mind. Economic difficulties appeared to be increasing rather than decreasing, he said, while acknowledging that the budget was likely to be challenging, but relief-focused decisions would have to be made.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said a four-member party committee, comprising Pervaiz Ashraf, Sherry Rehman, Saleem Mandviwalla, and Naveed Qamar, will present budget proposals to the government. In a comment, the PPP leader said they had welcomed the move after the PM decided to provide relief to the public in the wake of an increase in fuel prices due to the Iran war. “Through consultations, all provinces agreed to support measures aimed at reducing inflation, including relief for motorcycle users,” he said, adding that the PPP helped millions of farmers through the Benazir Kissan Card.

Foreign policy

Mr Bhutto-Zardari appreciated that the foreign policy was moving in the right direction and was being shaped in the national interest.

He said PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Asim Munir were making efforts for peace and ending Iran-US tensions. “We want the situation to return to normal, after which we will discuss the government’s performance and promises,” he added. He said during Iran-US tensions, the PPP fully supported the federal government. “As Pakistanis, we unite on such matters,” he added.

The PPP chairman, however, said the economic situation remained serious and feared that hardships were expected to aggravate. “Even if an Iran-US agreement is reached, difficulties would persist,” he feared.

Referring to tensions with India, he said that during the war, he raised his voice on international media platforms in defence of the country as a patriot. After the conflict, the PM requested he lead a peace committee.

Regarding NAB amendments, the PPP chairman said the party had clearly conveyed its position to the government that, historically, the PPP had advocated for the abolition of the National Accountability Bureau.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2026