27th Amendment Bill to Be Tabled in Senate Today: Law Minister

News Desk 

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Saturday that the federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from Baku, reviewed key reforms proposed under the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

The cabinet meeting included a briefing on the amendment’s provisions, which envisage the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court.

“The government will present the 27th Amendment bill in the Senate shortly,” Tarar told reporters in Islamabad.

Tug of War Over 27th Amendment

However, the road to consensus remains rocky. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has drawn clear lines around several clauses it believes threaten provincial rights, judicial independence, and democratic safeguards. 

Sources close to the party said the PPP’s objections mirror the stance articulated by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari a day earlier, pointing to widening friction with the ruling PML-N over the scope of the amendment.

Among the most contentious issues is the proposed removal of Article 160’s Clause 3A, which protects provincial shares in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

The PPP has also resisted any reduction in provincial allocations, changes to Schedules 2 and 3 affecting provincial autonomy, and proposals to shift education and population subjects back to the federal list.

Other sticking points include amendments to Article 213 on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner, Article 63(1)(c) governing dual citizenship and civil service rules, and a proposal to restore powers to executive magistrates.

Yet, the PPP has expressed support for selective reforms, particularly amendments to Article 243 and the creation of a constitutional court, provided these changes do not compromise democratic and civilian safeguards.

“After our Central Executive Committee meeting, we agreed on three points: amending Article 243, establishing a constitutional court, and managing judges’ transfers through proper consultation,” Bilawal said at a briefing in Karachi.

The PML-N’s proposal reportedly includes a new designation, “Commander of Defence Forces” (CDF), under Article 243, which vests the command of the armed forces in the President.

Other proposed changes would remove protections for provincial shares in the NFC Award, address dual citizenship rules for government officials, and raise the retirement age of Constitutional Court judges to 68, three years above the current Supreme Court limit.

Bilawal emphasized that the PPP would not support proposals curtailing provincial finances or dual citizenship clauses. “NFC allocations can increase for provinces but cannot be reduced,” he said, highlighting the importance of constitutional safeguards.

He further pointed to Sindh’s financial autonomy under its local government setup and reiterated the need to honor other commitments outlined in the Charter of Democracy.

On the issue of presidential powers, Bilawal reassured that civilian supremacy and democratic governance would remain intact. “If democracy or civilian authority were harmed, we would oppose it ourselves,” he added.

The debate has drawn attention across party lines. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also voiced opposition to any alteration of Article 243 that might “undermine democracy” or reduce provincial powers.

“Provincial powers can be expanded, but reduction is unacceptable,” he said during a press conference, signaling potential resistance from other quarters as well.

As the 27th Amendment heads to the Senate, it is clear that the government will need to navigate a delicate balance between reforming federal structures and respecting provincial and democratic safeguards.

The unfolding deliberations are likely to test not only inter-party alliances but also the resilience of Pakistan’s constitutional framework.