The proposals include the establishment of a constitutional court, amendments to Article 160(3)A, Article 243 on maps
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addresses a media briefing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA on June 3, 2025. SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government has initiated the process for the 27th constitutional amendment and is proposing significant changes to various articles of the constitution, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari revealed on Monday.
His statement followed a recent meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which has sparked intense debate among political circles across the country, with the proposed constitutional amendments becoming the center of national attention.
Bilawal’s remarks on X sparked widespread speculation about the scope and timing of the change, as the government promptly called both houses of parliament into session – the Senate on Tuesday (today) and the National Assembly on Wednesday (tomorrow).
According to Bilawal, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) delegation, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz, met him and President Asif Zardari at the Presidency to seek PPP’s support for the amendment.
The PPP chairman later released the details of the meeting and confirmed that his party had been asked to support 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 the creation of a constitutional court, the restoration of the system of executive judges and the granting of the federal government the authority to transfer judges.
It also seeks to end constitutional protection of provincial shares in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, amend Article 243, bring education, population planning back under federal control and make appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Bilawal wrote on X that a PML-N delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met him and President Asif Zardari and asked for the PPP’s support to pass the 27th constitutional amendment.
“The proposal includes: creation of Constitutional Court, executive judges, transfer of judges, removal of protection of provincial shares in NFC, amendment of Article 243, return of education and population planning to the federation and breaking deadlock on appointment of ECP,” he wrote.
The PPP chairman said he has 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 seeking 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 draft also includes a major restructuring of the judicial system, with the insertion of a new Article 191A, which proposes the creation of a Constitutional Court – or the Supreme Constitutional Court – that would assume authority over the interpretation of the Constitution. Amendments to Article 200 regarding the transfer of county judges are also part of the proposal.
Other proposed changes include returning education and population planning to federal control, while changes to Article 243 would ensure that command of the armed forces rests entirely with the federal government. Article 213 will also be revised to change the process of appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner.
According to insiders, the federal government has formally handed over the 27th amendment draft to the PPP to seek its approval for parliamentary passage. In this connection, both houses of parliament have been summoned.
After the President’s approval, official notifications have been issued. Therefore, the senate meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 16.00 (today), while the National Assembly meets on Wednesday (tomorrow) at 17.00.
In anticipation of critical deliberations, political parties have mandated all their members to ensure full attendance. Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has called an important consultative meeting with parliamentary party leaders an hour before the session.
The purpose of the meeting is to obtain views from parliamentary leaders on the proceedings during the 21st National Assembly session, including the preparation of the agenda, the duration of the session and matters relating to the maintenance of order in the House.
During the meeting, parliamentary leaders will also exchange views on important national issues, legislation and matters of public interest likely to be discussed in Parliament.
Those invited to attend include Vice Chairman Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah; Union 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, and Hussa El Haq, and Hussa El.
The 27th constitutional amendment follows the controversial 26th amendment passed last October, which introduced sweeping reforms that gave parliament and the executive greater control over judicial appointments and evaluations.
