The proposals include the creation of a constitutional court, changes to article 160(3)A, article 243 on cards
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addresses a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, USA, on June 3, 2025.
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government has launched the process for the 27th Constitutional Amendment, proposing significant changes to several articles of the Constitution, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari revealed on Monday.
His statement came after a recent meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which sparked intense debate among political circles across the country, where the proposed constitutional changes have become the center of national attention.
Bilawal’s post on
According to Bilawal, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) delegation, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz, met him and President Asif Zardari at the Presidency to seek PPP support for the amendment.
The PPP chairman later made public the details of the meeting, confirming that his party had been asked to endorse the 27th Amendment. However, he added that his party would decide on the matter at the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting.
Bilawal revealed that the proposed legislation includes establishing a constitutional court, restoring the executive magistrate system and giving the federal government authority to transfer judges.
It also seeks to end the constitutional protection of provincial shares in the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, amend Article 243, return education and population planning to federal control and make appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
In a post on
“The proposal includes: creating a Constitutional Court, executive magistrates, transferring judges, removing protection from provincial participation in NFC, amending Article 243, returning education and demographic planning to the federation, and breaking the deadlock on the appointment of the ECP,” he wrote.
The PPP chairman said he had called a meeting of the party’s CEC at Bilawal House, Karachi, on November 6, after President Zardari’s return from Doha, to finalize the party’s position on the amendment.
Meanwhile, details of the draft shared by the Government with the PPP have come to light. Sources said the government is looking to amend Clause 3A of Article 160, in addition to Articles 213, 243, 191A and 200. Under the proposal, the constitutional guarantee of provincial shares in federal revenue under Article 160(3)A would be abolished.
The project also includes a major restructuring of the judicial system, with the insertion of a new article 191A that proposes the creation of a constitutional court – or supreme constitutional court – that would assume authority over the interpretation of the Constitution. The proposal also includes modifications to article 200, relating to the transfer of superior court judges.
Other suggested changes include returning education and population planning to federal control, while amendments to Article 243 would ensure that command of the armed forces rests entirely with the federal government. Article 213 would also be revised to modify the process of appointment of the chief electoral commissioner.
According to internal sources, the federal government formally submitted the draft of the 27th Amendment to the PPP, seeking its support for parliamentary approval. In this regard, both houses of parliament have been summoned.
Following the President’s approval, official notifications have been issued. Consequently, the Senate session is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Tuesday (today), while the National Assembly will meet on Wednesday (tomorrow) at 5 p.m.
Anticipating critical deliberations, political parties have directed all their members to ensure full attendance. Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq called an important consultative meeting of parliamentary party leaders an hour before the session.
The purpose of the meeting is to seek the views of parliamentary leaders on the procedures during the 21st session of the National Assembly, including the preparation of the agenda, the duration of the session and matters related to maintaining order in the House.
During the meeting, parliamentary leaders will also exchange views on important national issues, legislation and matters of public interest that are likely to be debated in the House.
Among those invited to attend are Vice President Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah; federal ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Attaullah Tarar, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Khalid Hussain Magsi.
Assembly members Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, Nuzhat Sadiq, Ejaz Jakhrani, Syed Naveed Qamar, Shazia Marri, Shehla Raza, Aminul Haque, Syed Hafeezuddin, Asad Qaiser, Gohar Ali Khan, Amir Dogar, Riaz Fatyana, Noor Alam Khan, Gul Asghar, Ejazul Haq and Hussain Elahi will also attend the debate.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment follows the controversial 26th Amendment, passed in October last year, which introduced wide-ranging reforms giving parliament and the executive greater control over judicial appointments and evaluations.
