Political Economy of Conflict: An Analysis of Council of Common Interests in the Post-18th Constitutional Amendment

Abstract

Since inception, resource distribution and their ownership in Pakistan remained a bone of contention between the center and provinces. Formerly, issues related to political economy produced both non-violent and violent conflict in small provinces. To overcome this issue, Council of Common Interest (CCI) was created in the 1973 constitution and matters of shared interests to the center and provinces were brought under its authority. However, due to successive military interventions, power was concentrated at the center and constitution was amended in such a fashion that it was not less than a shock to the participatory federalism in Pakistan. In 2008, Pakistan People Party formed a Special Parliamentary Constitutional Reforms Committee to draw a reform package in the constitution as was agreed in the Charter of Democracy in 2005.The reforms package was made part of the 18^th Constitutional Amendment and was signed by the president on 19^th of April 2010. The 18^th constitutional amendment went a step further in participatory federalism by restructuring the Council of Common Interests and gave extensive powers to it. This research article focuses on the question: to what extent the reformed CCI in the post-18th constitutional amendment has addressed the issues and concerns of small provinces related to political economy? The research is qualitative. Relevant available data (secondary data) has been utilized. The data has been analyzed through critical policy analysis.