PPP has objections over changes in NFC Award

ISLAMABAD: PPP leader Syed Naveed Qamar on Thursday said they would not accept any changes in the NFC Award under the proposed 27th Amendment and revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had shared a draft with President Asif Ali Zardari during a meeting.

Previously, PPP leader Naveed Afzal Chan had told Asma Shirazi — the host of HUM News programme “Faisla Aap Ka” — that  they had not so far received any formal draft of the proposed 27th Amendment and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari — his party chairman — presented the government demand before the people.

Read more: Hasn’t received formal draft of proposed 27th Amendment: Chan

But on Thursday, Qamar, who was answering various questions asked by Shirazi, said the PPP had some reservations over the proposed changes in the NFC Award and some other matters.

The PPP leader said his party would not backtrack from its stance on provincial autonomy and the 18th Amendment and hoped that the government would show flexibility without which supporting the latest package of constitutional changes was going to be difficult.

Read more: Govt presses for amendment, won’t ‘touch’ provincial autonomy

Explaining his point, Qamar said the PPP had objections over the reversing the devolution process and the planned 27th Amendment would have no future if the party’s recommendations were not accepted.

However, he made it clear that there was nothing against the constitutional order in the draft which had been shared with the party.

As the PPP Central Executive Committee is meeting in Karachi on tonight, Qamar said the 27th Amendment draft would be presented to the federal cabinet before being tabled in the Senate on Friday but only after considering his party’s proposals.

Read more: Cabinet expected to approve 27th Amendment draft Friday