PPP rejects most proposed reforms except for the amendment to Article 243.
The federal government has finalised the initial draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, setting the stage for significant shifts in Pakistan’s constitutional, financial, and judicial frameworks. The federal cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is expected to give formal approval to the draft during today’s meeting, after which the bill will be presented in the Senate for debate and review.
Key Proposals in the Draft
According to official sources, the proposed amendment aims to restructure the distribution of resources, redefine administrative powers, and reform the judicial system. The key points of the draft include:
- Increase in the Centre’s share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award by 10%, taking it from 42.5% to 52.5%.
- Transfer of provincial autonomy over education and health sectors to the federal government.
- Amendment to Article 243, renaming the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee to Strategic Command, with an additional post added to the Constitution.
- Reintroduction and regularisation of the Field Marshal title within the constitutional framework.
- Judicial reforms to limit the roles of the president and prime minister in judicial appointments, granting more authority to the Supreme Judicial Commission (SJC).
- Formation of a nine-member Federal Constitutional Court, replacing the existing constitutional bench in the Supreme Court.
- In cases of deadlock over the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), the matter will be referred to the Supreme Judicial Commission.
- Increase in the retirement age for judges of both the Supreme Court and the Federal Constitutional Court from 68 to 70 years.
PPP Voices Opposition
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has expressed strong opposition to most of the proposed amendments, with the exception of the change related to Article 243. A meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), held yesterday, continued discussions on the amendment, with further deliberations scheduled for today.
PPP sources stated that the party viewed several of the proposed reforms particularly those reducing provincial control over health and education as an encroachment on provincial autonomy guaranteed under the 18th Amendment.
Cabinet’s Review and Next Steps
The Federal Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is currently underway at Parliament House, where Law Minister Azam Tarar presented the draft. Once approved, the bill will move to the Senate for formal tabling later in the day.
Under Article 239 of the Constitution, any proposed amendment must pass through a multi-step legislative process — first through the Senate, followed by review in a relevant standing committee, and then approval by the joint parliamentary committee before final passage.
Political Consultations Ahead of the Draft
Ahead of today’s cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held consultations with leaders of coalition parties, including the PPP, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Awami National Party (ANP), and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).
Government insiders suggest that the amendment is part of a broader constitutional reform agenda aimed at strengthening federal authority, improving governance, and ensuring a balanced structure between the judiciary and executive.
A Controversial Reform Push
While the government defends the 27th Amendment as a step toward greater national coherence and judicial efficiency, critics argue that the proposed changes could dilute provincial autonomy and centralise power in Islamabad.
Observers say the upcoming Senate session is likely to see heated debates as opposition parties challenge the government’s intent behind several provisions of the draft.
As Pakistan braces for what could be one of the most significant constitutional debates in recent years, the 27th Amendment stands as a test of both political consensus and federal harmony.