An Analysis of the Performance of the Council of Common Interest in Post-18th Amendment scenario in Pakistan (2010 to 2020)

Abstract

The institution of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) was established under Article 153 of the 1973 Constitution. The CCI formulates and regulates policies in relation to the subjects enumerated in the Federal Legislative List (FLL)-II. The 18th Amendment deleted the Concurrent Legislative List (CLL) and also increased the subjects of the FLL-II. The said amendment addressed the CCI and brought changes in its composition and functions. Under the 18th Amendment, the president’s powers related to the CCI were curtailed and powers of the elected prime minister were enhanced. The prime minister is the chairman of the CCI under the amended Article 153-(2-A). The CCI has to meet once in ninety days under the 18th Amendment. This study evaluates the composition, functions, and working of the CCI in post-18th Amendment scenario (2010 to 2020). Adopting the constructivist paradigm of research, qualitative research methodology is utilized for this study. The amended Articles such as 153, 154 and 155 and the meetings of the CCI (2010 to 2020) have been analyzed. It is concluded that improvement has been found in the working of the CCI in post-18th Amendment scenario. Thirty-two meetings of the CCI were held in eleven years (from 2010 to 2020). Furthermore, it is suggested that the Federal Government should not take unilateral decisions in relation to matters highlighted in the FLL-II. The continuity in holding of the meetings of the CCI will strengthen the center-provincial relationship and certainly will be helpful in achieving the goal of a successful federation.